Page 2276 - Week 06 - Friday, 27 June 2008
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the cottage to be considered for entry to the ACT Heritage Register. The planning services branch of the Planning and Land Authority is arranging for a heritage report on the cottage to be prepared. Upon receipt of this report the Planning and Land Authority will make an application to the Heritage Council for an urgent assessment of this report.
As the Assembly would be aware, the Farrells were asked to leave the cottage on 31 May and at this time the property was handed over to the property group of Territory and Municipal Services, who are now responsible for the management and security of the building. The government has undertaken to ensure that the cottage will be preserved as a community facility. That could take many forms—a public gallery, museum, tea rooms, cafe or community space. In the interim the property group will be seeking a community tenancy.
Mrs Dunne sought to suggest in her comments that I had defamed the former occupants of that block by suggesting that they were squatters. I have in front of me and I will table for the benefit of members a letter dated 29 August 1983 from the Farrells to Tom Uren, who would have been the relevant federal minister at that time. I table the following paper:
Caretaker’s Cottage, Weston—Letter to Tom Uren from Jenni Farrell, dated 29 August 1983.
The relevant sections state that they were privately renting a three-bedroom house, the husband had become unemployed and things had become increasing difficult. The letter states:
It was then we heard of an abandoned derelict house on the edge of the Stromlo pine forest.
We then made a number of phone-calls to different government departments regarding ownership of said house. No-one was willing to claim responsibility for the house so after replacing broken windows, doors and roof tiles and removing piles of rubbish we then moved in.
Since then we have been maintaining the house ourselves, ie clearing blocked drains …
That letter is in the handwriting of the former occupants to the federal minister at the time indicating that they simply moved into the property. It is dated 29 August 1983 and was received by the relevant minister on 30 August 1983. I have tabled that letter for the information of members. I think that letter in their handwriting will finally put to bed the basis of the occupancy of that property.
Mrs Burke: No, it does not. They handed back the key to your people. Where did they get that from? Would they lie? According to you, they would.
MR BARR: Well, it is their letter in their handwriting advocating their position. I note further that the letter states—it is available for members—that they were asked to leave at that time. In fact, they were given four weeks to vacate the premises at that
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