Page 1263 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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Undeveloped land (zoned for housing) does exist in Wright that could be used for this purpose, but this option has not been adopted. Instead, much of the precious Community Facilities block of land has been abruptly seized. This will severely reduce the range of future options for this land for its original planned purpose. This is deeply disappointing to us and to many other Wright residents. There has been no consultation at all—just an announcement that blatantly flouts the planning of this suburb.
Indeed, the announcement is an affront to those who take pride in living in a well planned suburb.
Turning to constituents in Mawson, although it is not specified in Mr Parton’s motion, we have been talking to the community and we have been engaging with the community. It is becoming increasingly clear that the problems that exist in Holder, Chapman and Wright also exist in Mawson. The community is very concerned about what is happening. It is clear to me, based on the consultations that I have been having, that this is the wrong development in the wrong place and for the wrong reasons. As I said, it is not about public housing. This is all about the money. By Ms Berry saying in her speech today that this is about asset recycling and Ms Le Couteur saying in her speech that this is a consequence of budget constraints in part, they are admitting—and she is nodding now—that this is all about the money.
There are no winners out of this. There are no winners among the public housing tenants because they are being sent out to locations that are not supportable, if this is supportive housing. That is the point. On the one hand, the government can only justify this in the community facility zone if it is supportive housing. On the other hand, it is the wrong place to send these people if it is to be for people that need access to amenity and support. It is all about the money. They are not doing this on residential blocks in Wright because the government do not want to spend the money. They would much rather the use the community’s land to do it on because it is free for the government to do that.
I am very disappointed, I must say, that the Labor members from Murrumbidgee are not here. It is extraordinary that they would not be. This is an issue that really affects them. I note that they were here all morning talking at length about federal issues. They were very happy to do that.
At least Ms Le Couteur has turned up. Let us give her credit for that but, in doing so, also acknowledge that what she has said will be of no comfort at all to residents in Chapman, Wright, Holder and Mawson who have heard her words. As much as she is saying, “I’m concerned,” it is very clear from her actions and other elements of her speech that she is supporting these proposals and she will work with the Labor Party, as the Greens always do, to put light rail as a priority and ride roughshod over the rest of the community. That is what this is all about.
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (4.41): I am pleased to stand today to speak to this motion on the notice paper regarding relocation of public housing tenants from Northbourne Avenue to Weston Creek and Woden and the new Molonglo suburbs. Good on Mr Parton for coming in here and talking about something which matters a
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