Page 2947 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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In relation to nature conservation, I also note that the Canberra Liberals have been generally supportive of the establishment of the exclusion fence around the Mulligans Flat reserve, although I do note that over the years the cost has increased substantially. While I understand the merit of the program and appreciate the level of support that it receives in the community, I am concerned about the capacity for maintenance within the Land Management Agency.
I was approached by a range of people at various stages who expressed concern to me about this. This issue was raised again with me when I visited the Institute of Applied Ecology. The fact that there are some 20 gates in and out of the Mulligans Flat reserve causes me and others some concern. We may have spent some $1.3 million or $1.4 million on building this fence but it is only as strong as its weakest link. Each of those weak links is the gates. I am concerned that lack of maintenance and lack of vigilance will mean that all the good work can be undone by one simple breach of the fence.
That is a matter that the minister needs to be very attentive to. I think that we have to look very carefully at whether 20-odd gates are necessary and whether we can cut back the number of gates and that we also ensure that there is a thorough program of surveying the perimeter on a very regular basis to ensure that there are no breaches.
One group suggested to me that there would be enough people who would be prepared to volunteer to participate in a program of surveying the perimeter on a regular basis. That suggestion has not been taken up by the government. I think that the Mulligans Flat reserve enclosure will only be as strong as the fence, and I think this is something we have to be diligent about. I do not want to see the substantial investment and the possibility of important research being jeopardised because we do not have the money to maintain the fence.
I also note in passing this morning that the minister has announced the reintroduction of fees at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I do not know whether I wondered aloud but I have wondered on a number of occasions whether the government ever intended to reintroduce the fees at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I understand why they were taken off at the time of the fires. I do not have a problem with the fees. I think that it is unusual that they were not mentioned in the budget. The fees are going to be introduced from 1 July. We are here today debating the budget but these were not in the budget.
There is no real information available about how much of the $150,000-odd will be ploughed back into Tidbinbilla. I hope that it all will be; that was the original plan for the fees at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I know that they may not be popular, but I think that is appropriate. (Time expired.)
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.35): This line also includes a number of options for which I have responsibility, including tourism and EPIC. Again, I would like to emphasise the lack of information about tourism, the lack of transparency and perhaps even confusion about spending on tourism functions and programs. There is a mix between tourism, tourism events and venues, and coordinated communications and
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