Page 247 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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It is a key issue. I know that it was dismissed somewhat by some members in the chamber when this legislation came in, but it is a key issue. It is also a key issue because shopping trolleys find their way into our lake systems and watercourses. This does make them a problem. Mr Smyth has mentioned Clean Up Australia Day. I have noted that in my amendment, as Mr Corbell did originally. I have put that into my amendment. I have registered for the Clean Up Australia Day site at Lake Tuggeranong this year.
In the last couple of years I have registered clean-ups at Pine Island, where again we always find the bulk of rubbish in the watercourses there. That also included a large number of plastic bags. That was one of the main things we found in the last couple of years. It is obvious, though, from the amount of rubbish in Lake Tuggeranong that more needs to be done and that we need not only to clean up the rubbish but to find ways to reduce how rubbish ends up in the water.
One way to address the pollution in lakes is through the creation of wetlands and the naturalisation of stormwater systems. This is obviously something the Greens had in the parliamentary agreement. We have wetlands in the north, but we do need to see them in other areas because they have proven successful. They are really a key way of reducing rubbish in our watercourses. I am particularly supportive of the proposal to re-establish the watercourse at the Tuggeranong Homestead. I have provided my formal support in writing to the minders of Tuggeranong Homestead and attended a meeting on this project at the homestead last year.
The Greens have also met with the Lake Tuggeranong Rowing Club, a group with a significant stake in the lake. They have contacted us with concerns, as has the Southern ACT Catchment Management Group, which has done some excellent work on this. Members of that group have raised this issue at a couple of Tuggeranong Community Council meetings. I think it would be great if the council and other members of the community got behind this particular project. As Mr Smyth said, more things are needed, but this is one project that would also really revitalise that area and deal with some flooding issues around the Calwell area.
The problem is obviously not just about rubbish. There are also underlying problems with the water that flows into the lake from surrounding suburbs through stormwater drains. The outbreaks of the green algae prevent people then from being able to use the lake for recreational purposes. Obviously that has been identified. As I noted earlier, in March last year the Greens moved for the inquiry into the state of Canberra’s lakes. The Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment is expected to release the results of the inquiry early next month. I hope that any recommendations will be acted on by the government. This is why I have included a reference to this in my amendment.
On planning, I do thank Mr Smyth for acknowledging that a Greens’ motion established the Erindale master plan. The Greens also pushed for the Tharwa master plan to be established. It is very pleasing that that will also be happening. This is something I have also acknowledged. I do agree that having a coordinated approach to planning in Tuggeranong is important. I think it will assist in the sorts of projects that
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