Page 2612 - Week 07 - Thursday, 2 August 2018
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Statement by chair
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (11.35): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services.
At a private meeting on 28 February 2018, the committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into ACT Libraries. The committee will inquire into the current and future need for library sites and the best, most cost-effective model of library service points with particular reference to (1) the role of libraries within the ACT community; (2) strategic planning for libraries in the ACT, including (a) current practice, (b) potential revisions to current practice and the associated benefits and (c) opportunities for community involvement; (3) the nature and extent of current and future community demand for different library services, including (a) non-digital offerings, (b) digital offerings, (c) education and training opportunities, (d) facilities available for public use, (e) spaces for learning, creativity and achieving social inclusion, (f) other government services collocated with libraries, and (g) any other library services sought by the community; (4) the extent to which ACT Libraries are positioned to respond flexibly to meet current and future community opportunities and demands; (5) the extent to which ACT Libraries are accessible to the community, including (a) opening hours, (b) locations and (c) disability access; (6) the cost-effectiveness of existing branches; (7) comparative analysis of ACT Libraries with library services in other jurisdictions and community take-up of these services; (8) any legislative considerations that may be relevant; and (9) any other relevant matter. The committee will today call for public submissions and the committee will report by March 2019.
Statement by chair
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (11.37): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services relating to petitions on community facilities in Farrer.
On 1 August 2017 the committee received petitions numbered 13-17 and 16-17. They are substantively the same petition, one lodged in paper form and one lodged electronically. They were referred to the committee by a motion in the Assembly rather than under standing order 99A, as together, but not separately, they comprise over 500 signatures. As signatories to petitions 13-17 and 16-17, 540 residents of the ACT requested the Assembly to develop and implement a strategic plan for enhanced community facilities in Farrer.
The committee notes that in her response to the petitions the Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services said that she has “referred the petition to TCCS to review it in the context of developing the Territory-wide program for playground upgrades and public realm improvements”. The committee also notes the current opportunity for residents of Farrer to detail their suggestions for improved community facilities and present them directly to TCCS through the better suburbs consultation process.
The committee will not be inquiring further into the matters raised in these petitions but will continue to examine the allocation and distribution of funding for community facilities through the annual reports process.
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