Page 3844 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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This highlights the fact that we take a territory-wide approach to our health system. This is not just about Canberra Health Services. It is about our system as a whole and the system as a whole has, in fact, coped with the seasonal demand, which has been higher than in previous seasons, and we are increasing capacity before next winter.
Parking—Weston Creek
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the minister for roads and relates to the proposed new car park at Cooleman Court in Weston. Minister, will the existing large trees be removed or, if they are not going to be removed, how are you designing it to protect them and what impact will this car park have on the trees’ life span?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. The design work is currently underway on the Cooleman Court car park which will be located on the block on the corner of Brierly Street and Parkinson Street in Weston and which will of course serve the nurse-led walk-in centre and also shoppers at Cooleman Court.
As part of that design process we will be looking at how we can retain as many trees as possible on the site. There are a number of eucalypt trees on the site. Some of the site is not covered by trees. We will be looking to accommodate potentially up to 150 car spots on that location. Once we have developed the design work we will be engaging further with the community in relation to those designs, including the residences that are directly adjacent to the site.
I have visited Weston Creek Community Council to talk about this at an early stage, and I look forward to the government continuing to consult with the community in relation to this car park, which has been called on by 50 per cent of residences that I recently surveyed.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, given that you implied that at least some trees would be removed and you did not talk about protection measures for the existing trees, how will this development be consistent with the government’s recent announcement in the infrastructure plan calling for a 30 per cent tree canopy and a 30 per cent permeability target?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. Our government is committed to increasing, enhancing and retaining our tree canopy in Canberra. As part of this project—as I assume will happen with many projects across Canberra—we will look at how we retain and enhance the tree canopy. As part of the design process I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do to increase the number of trees on this site.
MRS JONES: Minister, will there be a pedestrian crossing to this car park for trolleys, and will the car park site be levelled and flat?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. As I said, we are looking at the design of the car park at the moment, so I cannot provide the specific detail around the gradient of the car park. As part of the project we will be looking at an option for a
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