Page 2165 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
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This government has been building amenities and community facilities across Gungahlin. From the just announced home of football in Throsby, which will host amazing soccer matches, I am sure, and give the sport a strong base from which to grow into the future, to the replacement of the Nicholls district playing fields with some synthetic surfaces to stage 1of Taylor district playing fields, this government is delivering for Gungahlin.
However, the vacant blocks in Casey are prime sites for the building of new amenities and facilities. I have had so many people in the community contact me about these blocks, raising ideas like a park, maybe indoor sporting facilities, playing fields, outdoor gyms and much, much more. They have been waiting for the sites to be handed back to the government, and it is about time that this happened. As this area grows, we need to ensure it remains a great place to live, and that requires amenities that the community wants. Empty blocks in such a central location are a huge waste and, rightly, are very frustrating for Casey residents.
Developers have a social licence to operate, and in this case it is to prepare the blocks for further use and return them to the government as soon as possible. Casey residents should not have to stare at an empty block every time they go to the shops. It affects the whole area, making it look unfinished and messy.
Public spaces are vital for community wellbeing. Spaces such as parks or sporting facilities encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. In a suburb like Casey, which has a median age of 30 and where over 25 per cent of residents are under the age of 14, open spaces are important. For children and young people to live active and healthy lives they need spaces to play and exercise. Reduced activity is on the rise and can have negative health implications. Open spaces encourage residents to get outside and to get active. This also contributes to positive mental health outcomes, as time outside can reduce stress and encourage social interaction. Communal spaces are important for the creation of community events and social groups. This will create a socially inclusive suburb in an already inclusive place.
I brought this motion forward today because the people of Casey have been waiting for this land to be put to use for a long time. Construction on Casey market town began in 2014 and finished in 2016. The site next door has stood vacant for three years now. While the site was originally slated for a bowls club, I believe community sentiment does not support this idea in the way it once did, which is why I am interested in seeing what the community has to say.
The block next door to the dog park has been vacant even longer. It has been slated for a park, which I believe the community probably still supports, but I think further consultation is required to confirm this and to make sure that any action is urgent. Community consultation is always a priority for this government, but it is clear that for Casey this process needs to be prioritised because it has taken too long.
It is important that these blocks are developed soon but also that the developments best serve the community. The point is that these blocks have stood empty for years
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