Page 2910 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 June 2010
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That is what the ACT Labor Party, through its budget, is saying to the community. It is saying that Jon Stanhope’s legacy project is more important than the street trees in people’s suburbs; it is more important than the amenity of people’s suburbs; it is more important than the look of our suburbs.
There is no doubt that Canberrans value their street trees significantly. Canberrans value the unique nature of Canberra. We are not wall-to-wall apartments as some cities around the world are. We are a beautiful city that is designed around the idea that we can enjoy open space, that we can enjoy nature, that we can connect with nature in our neighbourhoods. That is one of the things that makes Canberra an absolutely fantastic place to live and a fantastic place to raise a family.
So it is not surprising then, that Canberrans get concerned when they see aspects of that lifestyle being threatened or undermined. We see it when there is a significant taking away of open space. There is understandable community angst when utilised public space is taken away without justification, without something to replace it. Street trees, likewise, are something that significantly adds to the amenity of our suburbs. We know, when we look around Canberra—and I mentioned this in last night’s debate—that this not limited to particular parts of Canberra; it is not limited to particular suburbs. You could go to virtually any part of Canberra and people value their street trees.
I mentioned last night some of the beautiful streetscapes in the inner south, likewise in the inner north. But it is not limited to those inner areas. They are more established, indeed, but of course we have got some beautiful treescapes in parts of Belconnen and Tuggeranong. In Gungahlin, I think we have been less successful in some of the efforts to get street trees, and I think that one of the things that sometimes people are disappointed about with Gungahlin is that we have not developed the kind of streetscape that we have in earlier times and in other suburbs.
But whether you are in Banks or Conder, whether you are in Evatt or Macquarie, whether you are in Deakin or Turner or Aranda, people in Canberra value their street trees, and they would say to this government and they would say to this parliament, “Get it right. Get your priorities right. Take care of the basics first. Take care of the fundamentals first before you go and spend money on legacy projects, on things that in and of themselves some people will agree with, some people will disagree with.” They are high priority, not like the arboretum.
I want to touch on some of the government’s own words in relation to urban forest renewal. Their own publication says:
Mature trees from over 300 different species fill Canberra. They significantly contribute to the aesthetics, and have direct economic value and environmental benefits. The Australian National University has calculated this value at more than $15 million annually including $3.9m annually in energy reduction (less cooling and heating); $7.9m annually for pollution mitigation; and $3.5m annually for storm water mitigation. Trees have also contributed to the reduction in Canberra’s wind speeds by up to 50% …
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