Page 4528 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 20 November 1991
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Mr Kaine spoke a lot about the heritage aspects of this site, and I was also pleased to hear the Minister, at last, address the heritage issue. In fact, it now appears that Mr Collaery's amendment will enable members to give that full consideration. I mentioned earlier that it is not up to us to determine whether or not the number of townhouses is appropriate, or the columns, et cetera. Mr Moore has spoken a lot about profit. Perhaps I should remind Mr Moore that "profit" really is not a dirty word. There is absolutely nothing wrong in somebody making a profit out of the development.
Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I do not know whether the state of the building allows it to be retained, but that is really what we need to know. I do not think enough work has been done. Change is inevitable, as Mr Wood has stated; but I certainly do not rule out change, in particular, around clubs.
A proposition for indoor lawn bowls gives Canberrans in our climate a sensible alternative. I am a great supporter of sport participation by all in our community, and an indoor bowling rink would, I believe, attract more members, and certainly more participation by members more often.
I do not consider that this debate today is about suitability; it is about the preservation of our city's heritage. If that happens, I am more than happy to support the proposal. I do not think it has happened at this stage, and I will not be supporting the variation.
MR DUBY (11.51): This has been an interesting debate in a lot of ways. As far as I am concerned, what I have heard today from the vast majority of speakers on this matter has been nothing but a lot of emotional claptrap. These people maintain, somehow, that development of the Forrest site would be in contravention of something. I am absolutely amazed, I must add before I go on, that no-one has mentioned the spectre of Walter Burley Griffin turning in his grave at this proposal. Usually, that comes up in debates of this nature about the grand vision of our founding fathers.
As Mr Kaine said, and said quite clearly, both in his report yesterday and in his comments today, there is no reason, in principle, for this proposal to be withdrawn, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the due process has been followed. As he said, the whole thing boils down to a matter of judgment.
I can sympathise with the people who live near the proposed redevelopment of the Canberra Bowling Club who have been to see me and spoken to me in quite lucid terms about it. It might be interesting to know that they are not opposed to the development per se, which I think some of the members of this Assembly are taking on a theoretical basis; in their view, the development of some 26 townhouses on that
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