Page 197 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 December 2008
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This new work in the relationship between Tidbinbilla and Birrigai has significant advantages in a number of portfolio areas that I have responsibility for, not least of which is educational tourism, whereby the new facilities, the interpretive learning centres and the capacity to work across the facilities in terms of student accommodation, new learning opportunities and the new ACT curriculum framework, with its particular focus on these areas, provide, I think, great opportunity for growth.
Whilst I understand that there might be a perception from just looking at a strategic diagram of how the management of Birrigai will operate in the future, this was a matter that was negotiated thoroughly over a 12 to 18-month period in moving to the new structure. It was done in consultation with key stakeholders and it was the belief of all those involved in the process that a closer working relationship was needed with the parks and conservation area within Territory and Municipal Services. That may have moved into a new agency, although I would have to check the detail on that in terms of where those people are now employed. But that relationship and the building of a stronger relationship with education was very important to expanding the quality of programs on offer.
It might be appropriate for a more detailed briefing on the new model to be made available to Ms Hunter, but I do not agree with the premise of her question that this means in any way that we are undermining the focus on outdoor education or that this will result in a diminution of education services. In fact, I believe it will result in an enhancement, and a very significant enhancement, and that is why we went down this path.
MS HUNTER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. You have just mentioned, minister, that you had sought the views of stakeholders. Can you advise the Assembly if the views and assessment of past and existing Birrigai staff and school groups who have enjoyed their experiences at Birrigai were sought before the decision to reshape the role of the school and its staff was made, and what those views were?
MR BARR: Sure. I do not have them in front of me—I can make them available in some detail to Ms Hunter—but in broad terms there was strong engagement through a number of phases of this project, because, as members would be aware, the facilities were destroyed in the bushfire, were rebuilt from scratch in many instances and in fact were a significant enhancement on what was there before. In moving towards this new model, a lot of consideration was given, as I indicated in my previous answer, to what new opportunities there would be.
The General Manager of Australian Capital Tourism is involved in terms of the educational tourism opportunities that are there for school groups outside the ACT to access these facilities and it is something that we want to build on. We have significant capital investment in the new facilities. The Chief Minister and I had the great pleasure of opening them—about 12 or 18 months ago, from memory. But in terms of the detail of stakeholder comments, I will have to take that part of the question on notice and get back to you, but that information is available and I am very happy to provide it to Ms Hunter.
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