Page 888 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
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MR WALL (Brindabella) (4.39): I will close the debate. It is clear from the amendment that Mr Gentleman is seeking to move that the intent and the concern of the residents of Tharwa still has not sunk in. Residents across Canberra are absolutely sick and tired of this government, those opposite, turning up to do consultation with their minds already made up on what the outcome should be.
That is, first and foremost, how the residents of Tharwa feel about how the consultation for this village plan is being conducted. It is not, as Mr Rattenbury tried to sugar coat, about going down there, getting the residents views and reflecting them in the draft plan that will be prepared shortly. Residents feel that when the consultations occurred, the public meetings and the briefing material that was provided clearly already had an undertone to an outcome that the government is seeking to achieve. That is what they are upset about. Their views are not being taken as the first and, I guess, the primary source for forming what the draft plan should look like but, instead, will be bent to suit what the government’s agenda is.
Various residents have various views about what that is, be it land release to the cutting of more services. Let us just say that over the past couple of decades the residents of Tharwa have had no reason to maintain faith or confidence in the current government and the way it conducts itself when it comes to their home, which is the village of Tharwa.
I am a firm and keen believer that there is a lot of potential to see Tharwa reinvigorated back into the tourist hub, the hive of activity that it once was. There was a favourite pastime of so many Canberrans to head down to Cuppacumbalong homestead on a weekend for a lunch or a function, enjoy the delights of the historic gardens down there or walk along the river bank. But that seems to have all gone by the wayside.
Currently if you want to go down to Tharwa for a meal or a drink, you cannot do much better than a takeaway from Val’s general store or, if you are lucky, he might have a pie in the warmer. But that is because, bit by bit, the tourism and the trade that used to sustain the village of Tharwa has disappeared.
Cuppacumbalong, which is a significant historic site in the ACT, is closed predominantly every day of the year. I think very occasionally there is an open day—very occasionally. But it is not something you can rely on. It is very poorly advertised, and there is a great significant ACT treasure that is being locked up. It was once the jewel in Tharwa’s being a bustling and thriving rural village in the ACT.
Mr Rattenbury quoted Meredith Hunter in his speech as referring to craft stores. They are far and beyond craft stalls. These are renowned artists practising their craft but they also have gallery space open to the public hopefully to generate further business for themselves. I would encourage every member in this place to look at and reflect on the mace that sits in front of us on every sitting day. That is more than just a mere craft item. It is something that is truly skilfully and intelligently crafted and reflects the great skill, care and diligence that is evident in all of the works that the artisans in Tharwa produce.
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