Page 3142 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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But the Flynn community did not know about the decision because the minister did not talk to them or even tell them about it. Minister Burch did things her own way. Worse, Minister Burch is now spending $4 million to accommodate 13 more children than are currently accommodated by the combined Alkira and Gumnut childcare centres. That is more than $370,000 per additional place. Contrast that with Baringa Child Care Centre which undertook a facility extension project costing $375,000 and which created 35 additional places or $10,700 per place. Minister Burch continues to sing the words of the famous Frank Sinatra song, I Did It My Way.
And speaking of singing, let me turn to the Fitters Workshop. Perhaps to her credit, Minister Burch is singing from the government’s song sheet in relation to the decision to move the Megalo print studio from the former Watson high school to the Fitters Workshop. Nothing is wrong with that, you might say. Indeed, that may well be so. If it can be shown to be, I will support it absolutely. Megalo’s move to the Kingston arts precinct is a right move, for many reasons. It creates the right synergies on a range of fronts.
I think that the narrative of having an industrial art form like printmaking in an old industrial site is extraordinarily good and to have it in close proximity to the glassworks is extraordinarily good. And I think that no-one would question this, except since that decision was made, Madam Deputy Speaker, as you know, we have made a discovery about the acoustic of the place. I am no acoustic expert—and I do not know that anyone in this place is an acoustic expert—but there are a lot of people who will attest to the acoustic of the place. There has been the discovery of the acoustic quality of the Fitters Workshop. Peter Sculthorpe says, “There is no place more uplifting for a concert in this whole country.” And they are pretty strong words of praise. The director of the song company, who was on the ACT version of 7.30, extolled the virtues of the acoustic. David Pereira extolled the virtues of the acoustic.
But has Minister Burch sought expert acoustic advice? No, she has not. The music community is feeling ignored because they have not been consulted. More than 1,400 Canberrans are feeling so ignored that they have signed a petition to that effect, which you tabled today, Madam Assistant Speaker. Has Minister Burch talked with, listened to or even invited comment from the music community? No, she has not.
The size, space, ambience, acoustics and location of the Fitters Workshop and the vacant space still available in the Kingston arts precinct create a wide range of options for a truly visionary plan for the future. Has Minister Burch thought of these options or considered these options? No, she has not. Communities the world over have shown the synergies that are created by the coexistence of and cooperation between the visual and performing arts communities. This government has said the Kingston arts precinct is to be a visual arts precinct alone. Has Minister Burch considered all the options available or created true vision for the Kingston arts precinct? No.
The Kingston arts precinct provides an excellent opportunity for a world-class tourist attraction, arts hub and community space. Has Minister Burch contemplated a master plan that explores and articulates these opportunities? No, she has not. Has the development of the Kingston arts precinct been impetuous, piecemeal and unplanned?
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