Page 3895 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 15 December 1992
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Madam Speaker, I believe very strongly that it is what is done inside the boundaries that will really matter. It is, after all, the homestead and the associated buildings that are the vital part of this property, not necessarily all 31 hectares surrounding it. It is more important that the activities within the property and within the walls of the homestead buildings reflect the heritage value than merely to argue the fence line.
Madam Speaker, this is an extremely important point to make because it is the use of the land around the homestead also that has been such a contentious and emotional issue in the past. The committee carefully considered this and concluded that the land surrounding the homestead was indeed important; but, unlike some in the community, we looked at it from the homestead's point of view - literally. Madam Speaker, we had to ask ourselves what historical and heritage value the land surrounding the homestead had, and to what extent it would add to the historical and heritage value of the homestead. I believe that we, as a committee, have recommended a fair and reasonable use for the land that does not damage the significance of the homestead at all. In fact, I believe that the recommendations will improve the homestead as a useful and vibrant part of Canberra's history.
As you can see, Madam Speaker, the future of the homestead itself was only part of our committee's concerns. I believe that the question of preservation of the homestead was assured before this inquiry and is more so now. What was not assured, however, was how best to preserve it, considering all the players, the cost, the future use and the community interest. Madam Speaker, these recommendations suggest ways in which that preservation can take place. The community can now, I believe, play a very real and important constructive role in this project. Should the Government adopt these recommendations, there is great scope for members of the community to participate in the next stage when, I understand, from evidence given to the committee by officials of the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning, expressions of interest will be called for the lease development of the site.
I would personally like to thank the current lessees for their great assistance in giving us an understanding of the property on our visit. I would also like to thank the officials from the Heritage and Museums Unit, particularly, of the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning for their cooperation and advice in our tight timeframe. The committee secretary, Bill Symington, and the committee secretariat also provided the committee with great assistance, and I thank them for their professional and hard work. I join Michael Moore in commending this report to the Assembly.
MR WESTENDE (5.06): Madam Speaker, I rise to add a few words and voice my support for the report on the cultural and heritage significance of the Tuggeranong Homestead. I think the report is a fair balance between preserving our heritage and at the same time making use of available vacant land to the benefit of the Canberra community as a whole. The report recommends to the Government that sufficient land be kept surrounding the homestead and its outbuildings to make it truly a community facility of benefit to the whole of Canberra, but especially to the people of the Tuggeranong Valley. Yet it realises that land is becoming scarcer as the city continues to grow and that we must utilise existing infrastructure surrounding vacant land to its fullest potential.
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