Page 5913 - Week 18 - Wednesday, 11 December 1991
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Mr Deputy Speaker, I think this report on rural leases is very valuable. It was one of the positive contributions made by Mrs Nolan to the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment, and I think it is an appropriate report to be considered by the next government of the ACT.
MR JENSEN (3.16): Mr Deputy Speaker, this is a very important report which probably should have been produced as a joint committee report, which would have enabled the leasing and planning related issues to be covered in greater detail. However, it certainly has been able to relate environmental and heritage concerns to the need for longer lease terms. To this end, I think it will have achieved its aim, and I think it has been a good report from that point of view. I am also aware that the bureaucracy, the Rural Lessees Association and those concerned about environmental issues related to rural activities in the ACT are eagerly awaiting it. I do not believe that they will be disappointed with it as it stands at the moment.
Before commenting on some aspects of the report, I would like to place on record my appreciation for the work of the former members of the committee - Dr Kinloch, Mrs Nolan and Mr Stefaniak - and the members of the committee secretariat, particularly Bill Symington and Mrs Kim Blackburn whom Mr Moore has already mentioned. I would also like to express my thanks to the other members of the committee, but I will come to that a little later.
It is also appropriate, Mr Deputy Speaker, to thank the members of the Rural Lessees Association who provided the committee with an opportunity to see the issues on the ground. I thank Mr and Mrs Adams, whom Mr Moore has already mentioned, Mr and Mrs Anderson and Murdoch Geikie and his family from Lanyon, who provided an opportunity for members of the committee to see the issue at first hand.
Also, we paid a visit to the Royalla woolshed, which is currently being leased by a family from outside the ACT, who live just across the border. It was most illuminating to see that particular site. I am not quite sure what the current situation is with the electricity for that particular facility. I understand that some work was being done on that. Mr Wood might like to make a note of that and see where we stand on that one, as it is a property that belongs to the ACT and there was an issue about having the electricity connected there. I am not aware of the current situation.
At this time it is appropriate to thank the members of the Conservation Council of the South-East Region and Canberra who also took time out to show members the potential problems of the Gungahlin development for the existing rural operations in that area.
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