Page 1151 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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good progress being made on developing the Ainslie Arts Centre as a music hub. I think that is a credit to the minister and the directorate there in moving that issue forward. We have, of course, had practical measures like bollards being provided in key locations around the city and shopping centres for promotion of events via bill posters, and the EPA is undertaking a noise study to look at issues in group and town centres.
However, there are many other issues where we have not made sufficient progress. I note, of course, that this is a complex issue across multiple directorates, but that is why I moved the motion in February, because some of these key events that people are seeking to put on are butting up against some of these noise issues.
We know that live music and some of these events contribute to making a more livable and prosperous city but there are ongoing challenges, particularly this growing conflict between live music and encroaching residential development. We saw it with the extension of Art, Not Apart, where the rather inappropriately named group, the IRA, the Irate Residents of Acton, came out and brought up concerns. They have voiced a range of concerns. I note that counter groups were formed—the Happy Residents of Acton, who were appreciating the events—but I think this underlines the fact that this is an issue where there is growing conflict as we see a greater residential development in some key central parts of the city.
I support that residential growth in those areas, as I think all members of the Assembly do. But what it is highlighting is the potential for an increasing conflict in this space. We need to protect our lively precincts. For years Canberra has lacked them. We are now seeing them finally emerging, and this is a great development for our city and one that further promotes Canberra as a great place to live. But there is a very real threat out there as some residents who are moving in are not taking to the liveliness of the areas they have just moved into. It raises some interesting questions about why they moved there.
But if you look at an area like Braddon, it has become tremendously popular because of its lively nature. But as more apartments are built in areas like Lonsdale and Mort streets, these conflicts will unfortunately be exacerbated. We need to make sure we have got the right measures in place to ensure these very positive traits these areas have developed are not undermined as they become perhaps so popular. We need to identify compatible land uses but also ensure we have measures in place to allow for these lively zones to continue. We have a bit of work to do in this area.
I look forward to the report back to the Assembly in June that arises from the motion that I moved recently in the Assembly. I look forward to further discussions with Assembly colleagues as to how we tackle some of these issues. As I said at the time of moving my motion, it is a difficult issue; it brings real conflicts to the fore and it challenges some of the sorts of things that Ms Fitzharris has raised in her motion today.
Having touched a little on that issue again, I would like to simply indicate my support for the motion and look forward to the continued development of events in our city which clearly are so popular in the community.
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