Page 3477 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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unique in that it is only 10 minutes from our CBD. There is no other major Australian city that boasts such extensive facilities in such a central and accessible location.
We are particularly focused on the delivery of the master plan to support healthy communities, active living. We know that this is an important part of the longer term agenda for our city.
The master planning process outlines the vision for the park into the future. The government continues to make its own investments in the park and to work closely with potential private and community sector partners in relation to new and emerging opportunities that are as diverse as onsite accommodation; management options for elements of activities within the park; and the partnership with those who are at the top of Stromlo Forest Park, the Australian National University, which has some fantastic facilities at the summit of Mount Stromlo.
In all, we have a clear vision and a clear process for engaging with the private sector, a process that has been well developed and well received. We look forward to making some further significant announcements for Stromlo Forest Park in the weeks and months ahead.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (3.19): I am pleased to have a chance to talk about Stromlo Forest Park because it is a tremendous asset for this community. That is best demonstrated when you see developers in places like Denman, Prospect, Wright and Coombs advertising their land releases using images of mountain biking and similar sorts of things. That is a very practical example of just how much the community values that facility. If one goes out there not only on the weekends but even during the week to see the range of activities that takes place at Stromlo Forest Park it is very easy to recognise the value the community places on it. Be it runners, walkers, mountain bikers, dog walkers or people watching the kangaroos, there are plenty of things going on there.
It is also a terrific legacy of what was a dark and difficult event. Stromlo Forest Park was the scene of the enormous bushfire that struck this city in 2003, and the area was decimated. As someone who used to run through those trails when it was once a significant pine forest, Stromlo Forest Park is a very different place now than prior to 2003. It is terrific to see it turned into such a positive community place in light of those dark events.
That said, Stromlo Forest Park is in danger of being loved to death and requires additional investment over time. I note the comments of the Chief Minister, but Stromlo Forest Park is becoming quite busy and would benefit from an expanded trail network when it comes to mountain biking as well as additional infrastructure. New capital investment in Stromlo Forest Park could make a significant difference to its future.
The trail network has not been expanded for many years. Due to the proposed development of ovals at Stromlo Forest Park beginner tracks will soon be removed to reduce the overall trail network. Those beginner trails are really important in Stromlo Forest Park. There are obviously much more hard core tracks further up the mountain,
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