Page 257 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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Ms Bresnan gives Ms Burch some credit for doing something three years ago. That is good, but it has moved on and it has changed. And it has not actually got better. The fact is that now we not only have the debris and the algal blooms but we have a stench that is affecting where people live. In some cases it can be smelled kilometres away, not just a couple of hundred metres. There are areas where it can be smelled kilometres away. That is a serious problem. That is a health concern, and it needs to be fixed. Just to say that a member did something three years ago—well, three years ago is three years ago.
I think Tharwa residents will be pleased that Mr Corbell is now able to use the name of their village so profusely in his speech, trumpeting how much they have done for Tharwa. I think Tharwa residents have a long memory and remember who is responsible for a lot of their prosperity—indeed, for the continued existence of the village. Let us face it: if Val Jeffery had not put in the controlled burn the night before the 18th, Tharwa would not exist. The controlled burn went in, and it saved the village. If you look at the issues of the last 11 years, whether it is access to water, road access, access to schooling, access to preschool or the future of Cuppacumbalong, you will see that the government has not dealt with Tuggeranong fairly. There is a master plan being put in place now, and that is a great thing. We welcome that. But you need to remember the history, and delusional rewriting of history is not acceptable.
I would simply say this: if Ms Bresnan wants to leave my paragraph (a) in place, we could accept that, but it is important not to take out the maintenance issue, given the long list. I will read the list again for members who were not here when I started. The long list that came out of the Tuggeranong Community Council meeting last week or the week before last was very comprehensive in its condemnation by the very fact that these items were put on the agenda. There was everything from bike path maintenance to the lake, roundabouts and sporting ovals. The whole lot was covered. There was car parking. The basic maintenance issues that we pay our rates for and expect to occur are not occurring in Tuggeranong according to the members of the community council. That is why the first point should certainly stay. Until that occurs, we will not be voting for the amendments.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (8.21): I rise to talk about my electorate of Brindabella and to respond to the motion about the maintenance of Tuggeranong. As a long-time resident of Tuggeranong valley and as a member of Brindabella, I can attest to what a wonderful place it is to live, to shop and to be part of the community in. Let us be clear that Tuggeranong is indeed a fabulous place to be.
I would like put on behalf of the hardworking staff in Territory and Municipal Services that the Tuggeranong district and the Tuggeranong lake itself are maintained to the same standards as public open space and lakes in other districts. There is no difference in the work and effort by TAMS workers in Tuggeranong valley and elsewhere. Mr Smyth is simply wrong.
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