Page 570 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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I sent my constituent a copy of the minister’s response. To say he was unhappy is an understatement, and I cannot necessarily repeat all of the things that he said. But he did go on to say that it was a load of waffle, that there are B-doubles on the road, that this was a quiet residential area and that there are no barriers or trees planted in any way to attempt to reduce the noise or to beautify this area.
Kingsford Smith is used heavily by commuters going from Gungahlin to Belconnen and the city, and the use will only increase as Gungahlin expands. An attitude of prevention rather than cure should be applied to this situation, and it should be applied now. A drive along Kingsford Smith shows only one sign asking drivers to reduce noise and to “please limit compression braking”. That is one sign for the whole 4.2 kilometre stretch of downhill road between Kuringa Drive and Ginninderra Drive.
I call on the minister to investigate the traffic using Kingsford Smith Drive. Further I call upon him to review the traffic policy for Kingsford Smith Drive now and identify a strategy to reduce noise both now and into the future.
Sri Lankan food fairs
MR COE (Ginninderra) (6.34): I rise this evening to talk about the ongoing food fairs organised by Canberra’s Sri Lankan community. On the third Saturday of each month the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in Canberra organise two food fairs around Canberra. The fairs are held in the north of Canberra, usually at the Gungahlin community centre, as well as at the Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Kambah.
All foods sold at these fairs are Sri Lankan delicacies, and cooked and provided by members of the Sri Lankan community. The food fairs are very popular. Indeed some foods are so popular that they are available in take-home packs to store and eat during the week. They are very popular. Revenue collected from these fairs is currently being directed towards the upkeep of the temple in Kambah, as well as fundraising for the construction of a new temple in Canberra’s north.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Sri Lankan food fair at the Gungahlin community centre. There was a variety of Sri Lankan foods on offer. I was introduced to hoppers, a type of crepe with a crusty edge and a soft centre. Hoppers are usually made from fermented rice flower and coconut milk, and come in a number of variants, including plain hoppers, egg hoppers, and string hoppers.
Other foods on offer included thosai, which is a form of fermented crepe, and Sri Lankan fish cutlets, which is a type of fish ball which goes well as a side dish to most rice and curry dishes. A variety of different hot and spicy curries were available, all cooked by volunteers.
As well as hosting food fairs once a month, the Sri Lankan community had a couple of stalls at last weekend’s National Multicultural Festival. Unsurprisingly, the food was a big hit.
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