Page 263 - Week 01 - Thursday, 12 February 2015
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least three different regulators. Access Canberra streamlined the process and Canberrans got to enjoy an outdoor spit roast on Australia Day. Sometimes it is simple examples like this that show how important it is that we make it as simple as possible for small businesses in our city to do new things.
Access Canberra has also taken a lead role in coordinating the process for the running of the Art, Not Apart festival that will run from the New Acton precinct along the Acton beach and through to the new west side pop-up precinct from 14 March this year. Access Canberra will be the single point of contact for the organisers and will take a whole-of-government approach to the festival.
The difference between compliance and community happiness and fines and community distress can sometimes be as simple as turning the speakers in the right direction. That is why Access Canberra is taking a proactive approach to regulation. That is why Access Canberra is working with businesses and event managers to assist them to understand and comply with regulations and not just waiting to issue fines after the fact.
Whilst it still is early days for Access Canberra, I believe this commitment demonstrates that the government is genuinely interested in assisting event organisers, businesses, community organisations and individuals to hold innovative public events to bring vitality to our city but also to protect the amenity of our wonderful garden suburbs. I thank Mr Corbell for his amendment and again thank Minister Rattenbury for bringing this issue forward this morning.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Women and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Social Inclusion and Equality) (12.11): This motion, which I thank Mr Rattenbury for bringing to the Assembly today, taps into the emotional conversation that we are having all across the country, and not just in Canberra. It also speaks to what can be a changeable relationship between events venues and desirable places to live.
On the one hand, the atmosphere and excitement of live music and events can make some locations very sought after and they are very valuable. This is part of the story of New Acton. The Nishi building and surrounding development have received international acclaim for the cultural space which was built into the design and for the events which are held there—the Art, Not Apart festival, the forage and hustle and scout markets, which are already so popular that they have had to move from New Acton to the Fairbairn precinct, and live music in the courtyard, including Sunday jazz, which I believe Mr Rattenbury’s motion makes reference to.
But on the other hand lies the element of those who––whether at certain times or as a blanket rule––object to the presence of community noise in their private space. There is no doubt that we all need peace and quiet at home. Some of us need it more than others. Unfortunately, some of the stories charting this issue over the years tend to be examples of where noise regulations, often tied to liquor licensing, have put a halt to events or venues, which has changed the atmosphere in those communities.
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