Page 4984 - Week 13 - Thursday, 12 November 2009
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the city end of Constitution Avenue, there are a lot of other iconic buildings and iconic places, such as the Civic pool, which has been an institution in Canberra for many years. I refer also to the National Convention Centre, CIT, St John’s Anglican church—St John’s Reid—and a number of national industry associations, in addition to other commercial premises at the other end of Constitution Avenue.
Another place which is very special to me is the headquarters of the Returned and Services League of Australia, which is where I worked before being elected to this place. The RSL have some grand plans to redevelop their block. I understand those plans have been somewhat controversial and have met with limited opposition from Canberra residents—mainly from some residents in Getting Crescent in Campbell, I believe. But, by and large, the proposal has been accepted by the Campbell community, I believe. They are proposing that it will be an iconic building. It will be a very symbolic place for both the Returned and Services League of Australia and veterans here in Canberra and across Australia. Also, I think it will be a building that all Canberrans will be able to take pride in. It will preserve the flavour and the sentiments which the RSL espouse, and it is something that I hope will get off the ground.
I believe that one of the impediments to the construction of this building being commenced is the overall marketplace and a lack of tenants wanting to move into that part of Canberra. I think it would be a great location. It is, of course, a part of the defence precinct. I urge all members of this place and our federal colleagues to consider such a location. It is a great place and I think that building would be a great addition to Constitution Avenue and to Canberra.
Another issue which has been talked about for some time is, of course, the bus services here in the parliamentary triangle and the lack thereof. It was mooted, I believe—or even announced; I am not quite sure—in recent years to have a shuttle service connecting the city to the parliamentary triangle. I do not believe that has happened. It may well have happened in the past but it is something for which there may well be demand and I would very much encourage ACTION to look into whether there is a need for some sort of shuttle service that would service the public service departments in Parkes and connect them to Woden and/or the city.
There is also the ongoing issue of parking in the parliamentary triangle and whether we should be charging for parking. This is a very difficult issue. Of course, one of the appeals of working in that part of Canberra is that you do not have to pay for parking, but the flipside is that just about everybody else in Canberra does have to pay for parking, including those in Belconnen mall and the Belconnen town centre in my electorate, and in Woden and Tuggeranong. It is a very difficult issue and it is one that the federal and ACT governments will have to determine in the near future.
I want to thank Ms Le Couteur for bringing on this MPI. I think it is a very important issue. The parliamentary triangle, as I said, is a very special place for all Canberrans, and I hope this Assembly continues to give it the attention it deserves.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development,
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