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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2688 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

and I attended along with a couple of your colleagues, and Ms Tucker and Ms Dundas. It was a very interesting meeting and an absolutely prime example of the very open and very consultative process in which this government is engaged in relation to Gungahlin Drive.

Mr Smyth: But will you listen to them?

MR STANHOPE: Certainly we listened. In relation to that, we did not do what the Liberals did in the week before the election, when this same issue arose. Of course, as soon as it was suggested that the road should move east into Black Mountain nature reserve, the Liberals' Brendan Smyth-desperate for just one extra vote, without any discussion, thought or consultation, without any assessment-was there saying, "I will move it. It is meant for me. I will move it straight through Black Mountain nature reserve."

And Bill, you were there, shamelessly holding him up in one of those big ruck-type things that rugby union players-

Mr Stefaniak: I was right, that is where it should be, 200 metres to the east. Mate, I have not changed my view one iota.

MR STANHOPE: He was acting as a prop. Yes, little Brendan, how are you? You will move it. Absolutely shameless. "If there is a vote in it, we will do it. We will bung it through Black Mountain. We will excise it. We do not care where it goes. If there is a vote in it, we will do it."

Land use

MS DUNDAS: My question is for the Minister for Planning. Minister, the planning for people policy released by the ALP before the 2001 election declared your commitment to protecting Canberra's open space network, in consultation with the Canberra community. Do you plan to incorporate block 4 of section 4 in Bruce, which is part of the Bruce Ridge and Gossan Hill bushland, and is currently managed as part of the Canberra Nature Park, within Canberra's formal open space network?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, shortly I will be announcing the details of the process we will be undertaking to formally protect the open space network of Canberra, and the central role that the community will play in helping to identify areas to be included in the open space network. I cannot comment specifically on that particular block. I am sorry, I cannot recall it. I do not know exactly where it is.

However, the government will be outlining shortly-I would anticipate, within the month-the process that we will be undertaking to formally identify the open space network, and then the process we will use to protect it. We will give it special protection so that people like Brendan Smyth will not be able to go around saying, "This is a park which has wonderful 360-degree views. It is nice and big, it is flat, and we can sell it." Let us not forget that this is the previous government's legacy.

Mr Smyth: Show me where I said that. You misrepresent me.

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