Page 1938 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 May 2010
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mini wetlands along College Creek. Such features of this budget demonstrate the government’s concern about climate change and the practical measures that need to be implemented at several levels to meet this challenge.
My government is not merely concerned with providing opportunities for the people in Canberra to participate in a strong economy; it also realises that art and culture are important aspects of our lives. In this budget for Ginninderra, $200,000 has been allocated to improvements at Strathnairn homestead, including provision for extra studio space. Set in a converted 1920s homestead on the north-western outskirts of my electorate, the Strathnairn homestead features regular exhibitions as examples of woodwork, photography, sculpture, glass, textiles, ceramics and mixed media. I am a very frequent visitor to Strathnairn and I have purchased more than one of the wonderful artworks that can be bought that are designed or executed by our local artists. Expenditure to improve access to these local artists and help them in their creative expression is very important. The quality of our lives is greatly enriched by artistic endeavour.
Art is very popular, as we have recently seen with the large crowds at our recent exhibition at the National Gallery. However, our Raiders, as most of us would call them, have been allocated $65,000 for an upgrade of their training facilities, which I am also pleased to see.
Young people, of course, have not been forgotten in this budget. Some $200,000 has been allocated for the design of the Belconnen skate park. When constructed, this will provide another avenue for young people in my electorate to participate in this exciting activity, although I find it a bit hair-raising to watch them, I must say. I know how much young people in this area have been looking forward to this.
I am also pleased to see the allocation of money in the budget for upgrades to Lake Ginninderra parks and playgrounds. These parks are very popular and any weekend, or any morning or evening in fact, that you would like to go down to the paths and the parks around Lake Ginninderra you will see many people riding their bikes, walking and enjoying picnics with their families. That is maybe not so much the case now with the colder weather, but certainly I can attest to the popularity of that area as a result of walking Lola, whom everybody knows about, around the lake and visiting the playgrounds with my grandchildren.
This government has introduced a responsible budget that addresses key areas such as health and education, provides for valuable infrastructure for the ACT and promotes positive action on climate change. The people in my electorate will benefit greatly, as I said, from aspects of this budget. The Treasurer has said that this budget is one about which some people may say we should have made different choices. I am pleased, though, to see all the measures that are in this budget, not only for my electorate but ACT-wide. There are many important initiatives, some of which will meet the immediate needs of our growing and ageing population. However, importantly, it is also one for the future with funds allocated to important infrastructure.
Funds are allocated to a jewel that many Canberrans and Australians—in fact, people from all around the world, I believe—will appreciate for decades to come. Of course I
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