Page 4414 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017
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Touching on the subject of our bush capital, I am leading a new focus on our environmental assets, building on the best of our natural environment, to develop a modern bush capital. Work continues on micro parks in our inner city areas, ensuring that city workers and residents have access to generous green spaces that are well designed, well built and well maintained. Efforts are being increased to ensure that living assets such as trees, waterways and parklands are carefully integrated into the way we approach planning and development in our city.
Our territory’s proud heritage is also a prominent focus. For tens of thousands of years the Ngunnawal people have known this region as their country and their homeland. We are now into the second century of also recognising this place as our home and our national capital. This history means that we have many unique stories to share and many places and objects to protect for future generations to enjoy. The ACT government will finalise a five-year heritage strategy which will determine a range of strategic priorities and actions that will further recognise, protect and serve and promote our heritage assets, thus building on the framework of existing legislation and initiatives such as the Canberra tracks, the Canberra and Regional Heritage Festival and the heritage grants.
In terms of key projects, some highlights of the achievements in the environment and heritage portfolio are: the launch of the H2OK stormwater campaign; the next stage of the Tharwa fish restoration project; the issuing of environmental grants to community groups; the completion of 95 per cent of the bushfire operations plan and new weather recording stations to help improve firefighting ability; the commencement of work on the Mulligans Flat sanctuary extension; and with respect to the Asbestos Response Taskforce, work on the removal program progressing under budget and ahead of time.
There have also been a number of key items of regulatory reform undertaken during the term of the new Assembly, including new governance arrangements for the establishment of the Suburban Land Agency and the City Renewal Authority and the appointment of their governing boards; reform of the Lands Acquisition Act to allow the territory to initiate the compensation process; new statutory planning requirements for the storage of dangerous substances; red tape reduction for assessing development near contaminated sites; and all draft Territory Plan variations being referred to the Legislative Assembly planning committee.
The key achievements I have outlined today in my portfolios for the first year will continue to come in the next three-quarters of this term of government and ultimately help to make Canberra an even better place to work, live and play for all.
Madam Speaker, I thank my staff, both in my office and across all my directorates. They have done a fantastic job in sometimes difficult circumstances. I encourage them to keep up their strong commitment. It is a great benefit to all Canberrans. I present the following paper:
Achievements over the last year—Ministerial statement, 26 October 2017.
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