Page 1344 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2009
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a date that residents are happy with to discuss their concerns in order to find a way forward.
Work on the footpath linking the car park and the adjacent Gold Creek school park that I mentioned before will continue, as it has no impact on the parking or traffic arrangements. I am pleased that the work on this footpath will continue, as it has no impact on the arrangements. This will give some immediate relief to the parking issues, as it will help residents and shopkeepers alike with regard to their concerns and it will, of course, provide some long stay car parking.
In light of the recent disquiet by some residents, I am fully supportive of the action being taken by the department to put the work on hold until a public meeting is held and further opportunities provided to residents to discuss their issues and their concerns. I am sympathetic to the frustration of the shopkeepers and other users of the car park who thought that the current difficulty in arrangements was about to be addressed. However, I know they understand the reasons for the delay and they know that I and my government are seeking to find the best solution possible.
This is an important matter and it is important that the reasonable concerns raised by the residents are considered in full. I will continue to push the matter to be resolved but the department must be given time and, indeed, the support of this Assembly to consult adequately with residents on what is a very important local traffic matter for people who utilise the Nicholls shops. Is the consultation adequate and is the public meeting necessary? I would have to say yes to both questions, given the local nature of this matter.
Good governance is a balance of consultation and leadership, and I am happy to say that this government is addressing both of these aspects. I intend to attend the public meeting to hear the comments and suggestions that residents and shopkeepers have. As soon as I have confirmation of the date, time and venue I will provide this information on my website. If time allows, I will conduct a letterbox drop myself.
I urge this Assembly to support the department in their decision and efforts to consult with residents on the concerns they have raised about the current proposal for the Nicholls shops car park.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (5.12): I will not speak at length on this issue. I merely point out that it brings into play the important principle which the Greens had put in our parliamentary agreement with the Labor Party. I am talking here about neighbourhood planning. This is the second incident during this term of the Assembly where we have had a significant local issue brought to the floor of the Assembly to be resolved. That cannot be the right process to do planning in the ACT. The proposal that the Greens put on the table as part of the parliamentary agreement was neighbourhood planning so that neighbourhoods would get together with ACTPLA and work out in a calm, non-confrontational way—
Ms Porter: It is not an ACTPLA matter.
MS LE COUTEUR: Sorry. I will try to speak up, Mary.
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