Page 799 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 1 April 2008
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Concerned Scientists responsible for developing the Blueprint for a living continent. We Canberrans were fortunate to have his expertise and his thoughtfulness at our disposal, no matter how heavy the national demands his professional eminence placed upon him.
Professor Cullen was the chair of the inaugural environment advisory committee that later became the ACT’s first natural resource management committee. This set the benchmark for other environmental committees that have helped shape ACT policies. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, now the most prestigious concentration of water research capacity in this part of the world. It was largely through Peter’s efforts that the headquarters of the CRC are located in Canberra. Not only has this proximity given the ACT government access to enormous expertise and productive working relationships with CRC researchers, it has built the territory’s reputation as a centre of higher education and research.
Professor Cullen’s contribution to environmental management in the ACT spanned many years. We recall his studies into Lake Burley Griffin sediment and nutrient run-off, which helped us design Canberra’s other lakes and ponds. We recall his service on the Murray-Darling Basin Commission Community Advisory Committee. We remember that he initiated the Cotter River project in 2000, which evolved into the adaptive management framework that has helped the ACT secure its urban water supply while protecting its aquatic ecosystems. His knowledge of ACT waterways and his support for ACT water management initiatives was instrumental in the Canberra urban waterways project receiving National Water Commission support.
His wisdom helped shape significant ACT policies, such as think water, act water, and the lower Cotter catchment planning in the wake of the 2003 bushfires. More recently, he provided informal but invaluable advice regarding water security.
Professor Cullen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to freshwater ecology, and the Naumann-Thienemann Medal of the International Society of Limnology 2004 “for his exemplary scientific leadership”.
The government conveys its sincere condolences to Peter’s wife, Vicky, and his daughters Belinda and Michelle. He will be sadly missed.
Mr Don Bell
Housing—public
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (6.05): I thank the Chief Minister for those comments, particularly in relation to Mr Don Bell. On a very wet, rainy day last week, I attended the funeral in Yass of one of Canberra’s most notable Aboriginal and Indigenous leaders, Mr Don Bell. I acknowledge at this point the presence of other MLAs: yourself, Mr Speaker, Ms Porter and Mr Gentleman. It was quite ironic that it was a wet day given Don’s concerns regarding water conservation and the environment generally.
Don Bell was a senior Ngunnawal elder and was born in Hollywood Mission in Yass on 5 October 1935. He was the son of James “Eppy” Carroll and Christine Carroll and
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