Page 750 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 2010
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same group of stakeholders in relation to my proposal to establish a Jerrabomberra wetlands trust. Indeed, the discussions on that are being conducted jointly with discussions with a separate stakeholder group in relation to a Mulligans Flat trust. There is discussion between all of those stakeholders, most particularly about whether or not we might develop a model of a single trust with two arms or an individual trust. But there is consultation being pursued at a number of levels in relation to the Jerrabomberra wetlands.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Chief Minister, you mentioned some meetings with stakeholders. Could you tell us about all the meetings you have had with stakeholders in the last six months, and would it be possible to make minutes from these meetings available to the Assembly?
MR STANHOPE: Certainly, to the extent that there are formal minutes or documents that are a result, most particularly, of those roundtables, I am more than happy to do that. I will have to investigate and take some advice, Ms Le Couteur, but I am more than happy to respond positively to you in relation to that.
I might say that I have numbers of informal meetings too. At the launch of Birds of Canberra Gardens by the Canberra Ornithologists Group just two weeks ago, a launch that the Speaker attended, I stayed and talked with the Canberra Ornithologists Group and a number of representatives of other stakeholder groups for an hour after that particular book launch. The subject of conversation was essentially exclusively around future planning for the Jerrabomberra wetlands. I say it was a conversation; it was not a formal meeting. It was a meeting or a discussion that went for an hour, and we had a very productive discussion around some of the issues of concern or moment.
Indeed, as a result of that particular meeting—there were no minutes and it was not formal and recorded—I have undertaken—you may wish to join us, Ms Le Couteur, and I extend this invitation to you—that I will meet with that group of stakeholders on site at a time yet not fixed but over the next few weeks for a detailed discussion around issues, most particularly involving some concerns around the proposed location or relocation of the electricity substation. I would be more than happy, Ms Le Couteur, for you to accompany me on the site inspection.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary question?
MRS DUNNE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, have representatives of RiverSmart Australia been invited to the roundtable or have you had any meetings at all with RiverSmart Australia in relation to Jerrabomberra wetlands? If not, why not?
MR STANHOPE: I have received correspondence from Mr Bill Phillips of RiverSmart. Indeed, I read with some interest Mr Phillips’ views about the future management of the Jerrabomberra wetlands. Some of his views are at quite serious odds with points of view that have been put to me collectively at the roundtables.
Most particularly, RiverSmart believe that water sport activity should be encouraged and located within the Jerrabomberra wetlands. RiverSmart have also advocated
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