Page 2261 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 June 2005
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2004. The strategy provides a set of objectives, principles and key actions for an integrated approach to illegal graffiti, covering removal of illegal graffiti and the positive roles legal graffiti art can play in a community. These actions include the formation of a graffiti management steering committee; the appointment of a graffiti coordinator; the purchase of a graffiti register for monitoring and reporting on illegal graffiti; the establishment of graffiti art workshops; promotion and provision of legal art sites to allow artists to develop and publicly display their art in approved settings; and the development of guidelines for the identification and use of legal graffiti sites in consultation with graffiti artists.
It is fair to say that the look of the city has been affected by the extended dry period and the water restrictions that commenced in November 2002. Of course this means that people can come out at any time of the day and do their graffiti, because they are not going to get wet. We will not see a lot of them out there this afternoon, I can tell you. They would all get wet and their texta colours would run! From talking about graffiti issues with my interstate colleagues in the state governments, our approach is way out in front.
Turning to water restrictions, the current stage 2 water restrictions allow limited restoration works of irrigated grass until weather conditions and water supplies are satisfactory—so bring on some more rain! As a result of the drought, extensive efforts have been made to regularly water some 18,000 young street tree and park trees throughout Canberra, to ensure their survival during the extended dry conditions. The drought has had an impact on urban street and park trees throughout Canberra. It is estimated that over the past couple of years at least 6,000 trees have died due to the dry conditions. A program is currently in place to remove nearly 4,000 dead and dying trees by the end of June 2005 with additional funding provided by the government.
The government has made a further funding commitment of $500,000 for 2005-06 to provide for the removal of several thousand dead trees. After the drought an extensive tree-planting program is to commence. The government has also continued an urban upgrade program throughout the city that aims to improve the physical condition of public places, as well as the character and appeal of those places.
Public safety concerns were addressed by the redesign of unsafe spaces, the replacement of lighting and the improvement of access. Safer urban spaces are more appealing and the installation of comfortable well-placed furniture and engaging public artwork also encourages the use of public areas. The first stage of the City Walk West project will be completed at the end of July 2005. This is a streetscape upgrade project that extends along Alinga Street from Northbourne Avenue to West Row and Moore Street. We do not hear any congratulations to the government for doing those sorts of works, do we? You might need a bit longer to hear that.
Mr Pratt: Another time, perhaps—at a more appropriate time.
MR HARGREAVES: I should live that long! The name is not Rip Van Winkle! The City Walk project aims to strengthen the link between the east and west sides of the city by providing a high quality road reserve that is dominated by pedestrian movement. Works include a widened pavement for pedestrians, new street furniture, lighting and artwork.
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