Page 3233 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
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Our government is responding to the growing needs of our city through building essential infrastructure and transport networks. This includes the light rail project, which has a light rail stop right outside EPIC. Light rail has been the catalyst for renewal and growth in our city, and the light rail will be a fantastic way for Canberrans to access a community and multicultural venue that they will love.
A new, large-scale multicultural facility will also help to support local businesses. A larger facility will allow organisations to hold significantly larger events that can hold more people and require more input from external organisations and businesses. The venue will boost local business through catering, event management and transport needs. As a government we are committed to a sustainable future. Providing a permanent facility for multicultural events will also be likely to reduce single-use plastic waste and other forms of waste, as cutlery and crockery can be stored and re-used at large-scale events.
In conclusion, I am very pleased to stand here to advocate for the infrastructure needs of our multicultural community. A large-scale venue suitable for hosting multicultural community events will create a wonderful space for all Canberrans, including our diverse Canberrans, to meet and celebrate our commitment to a vibrant and harmonious society. I would like to thank Ms Orr for her work on this important motion for our local and multicultural community. I call on our government to explore a feasibility study for a large-scale venue suitable for hosting multicultural and community events to be located in EPIC. I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (11.16): I am pleased to co-sponsor this motion that calls for the ACT government to explore the feasibility of a new, large-scale venue for multicultural community events at EPIC. In moving this motion today, Mr Gupta and I are responding to requests from people within Canberra’s multicultural organisations who want a larger community venue where they can celebrate their cultures and traditions.
I am proud to represent the Gungahlin region in this Assembly, which is home to Canberra’s most culturally and linguistically diverse community. The 2016 census tells us that 33.3 per cent of people living in Gungahlin were born overseas and 33.2 per cent of people speak a language other than English at home. Our region’s population is made up of people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds who all contribute to the cohesive society in which we live. It is important that, as a government and as an Assembly, we embrace this diversity and support people from all backgrounds to be able to celebrate their cultures and traditions.
As a member for Yerrabi, I know just how vibrant our community is because of the contribution of multicultural organisations. These organisations bring people together to meet one another, celebrate, learn language and cultural practices, and support one another to be happy and healthy.
Groups and associations that support Gungahlin residents, including the Telangana Association, the Telugu Association, FINACT, Initiatives for Women in Need, BAPS and the Canberra Muslim Community, are all vital to ensuring that people from
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