Page 60 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
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Mr Lamont: When you said no.
MS SZUTY: That is right; when I said no. I hope that that encouraged my fellow members of the committee to look beyond a conventional proposal for the residential development of the site. The feedback I have received from representatives of the Minders of Tuggeranong Homestead and the Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra has thus far not been encouraging. However, I sincerely trust that they will accept the recommendation of the committee that they be involved in the future development of the site for the benefit of the Tuggeranong community and for the benefit of the wider Canberra community. The recommendations of the Planning Committee with respect to this draft variation are innovative and will challenge a number of groups and individuals to achieve the ambience of the site envisaged by members of the committee. The recommendations will require commitment by many people to ensure their achievement. I commend the report to the Assembly.
MS ELLIS (8.35): I will not go over the report of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee in relation to this variation because I think the three previous speakers have well and truly covered the specifics. However, there are some general comments that I think it is important to make, and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to do so. First of all, I think the level of consultation with the community on this variation that has been undertaken by all Assembly committees concerned has been exemplary. It is worthy of note and is a credit to everybody who participated in that consultation process. The work of community groups, particularly MOTH but also the Tuggeranong Community Council and the heritage people, as well as individuals, is to be commended. There was a variety of contributions, mainly by volunteers, from people showing a dedication to their cause. I think it is appropriate to put on the public record my personal view that that sort of community consultation and input is invaluable and is an integral part of the committee process in this place.
I believe that I am in a unique role, and I regard that as a privilege, in relation to Tuggeranong Homestead. First of all, I am a longstanding Tuggeranong community member. I have done a great deal of my professional work in that community, and I believe that I have an ever-growing knowledge of the community. Secondly, I am fortunate enough to be a member of the Michael Moore committee, as we refer to it - the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee of this place. Obviously, because of that membership, I participated in the first inquiry into this matter, which has been referred to by previous speakers. The work done by that committee, which preceded the Planning Committee inquiry into this variation, gave me an understanding and knowledge of this matter.
I have always had a belief in the need to preserve the buildings at Tuggeranong Homestead, and I have taken that stance publicly. I have always said that it is incumbent on the community, and when I say "the community" I mean all of us - the Tuggeranong community, the Canberra community at large, this place and its members, and all other people in the Canberra community who have an interest in this subject - to find a way of facilitating that preservation work.
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