Page 816 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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master plan. The Greens and the ALP are already undertaking this audit task through the needs assessment, and there will most likely be a community infrastructure plan for southern Tuggeranong forthcoming from the project.
In looking at the demographic trends, it seems that the population will age, as it has in northern Tuggeranong. I believe the biggest demand for community facilities is likely to be aged care in coming years. That is something the needs analysis will spell out, but it is an observation I would make at this stage that I think will be identified in that process.
With regard to a pool, which is specifically spoken of in Mr Seselja’s motion, I am certainly open to the findings of the needs assessment. If it identifies that the pool is the issue or the particular priority of the community, the government will need to look very closely at that. As I said in the election campaign when this policy was announced, I was surprised that the Lanyon Valley was identified as the place of greatest need for a pool when one looks across the aquatic needs of the entire Canberra community.
Certainly in Tuggeranong we have the leisure centre at Erindale. The main leisure centre in the town centre is a very large and excellent facility and is one I enjoy using at times. We would also need to look at areas such as Woden where, through the closure of a number of pools, we have seen a significant decline in available services. If we are talking about whether a new pool is needed, a discussion probably needs to be had about where in Canberra that might be.
I was also surprised in the election campaign to note the Liberal Party was promising a pool at a cost $15 million and it was a 25-metre pool. This was odd because members will recall at the time there was the discussion about the development of a facility in Gungahlin the Liberal Party vehemently opposed a 25-metre pool and considered it to be short-changing the community. I agreed with him on that; I thought Gungahlin definitely needed a larger aquatic facility, and I was very pleased that that is how it has turned out. But I am interested that what was short-changing the Gungahlin community was good enough for the Lanyon community. I was really unsure about the rationale behind saying a 25-metre pool was okay. I would be happy to hear comments on why what was short-changing one community was okay for another.
While we are talking about the needs of Tuggeranong residents, we should talk about the respective parties’ position on wood heaters. Wood smoke pollution affects Tuggeranong residents in particular.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR RATTENBURY: I am glad you find this a laughing matter, but it is a very serious issue for many of the residents of your constituency, Mr Wall. I am surprised you are laughing that I would bring this matter up in debate. You claim to have doorknocked a lot of the community. The residents I meet are really concerned about this issue, and I am surprised you laugh at this matter.
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