Government news

The ACT is poorly served by the current Assembly of only 17 people.

The five ministers are overworked and their decisions and ability to pay due attention to visioning our future are therefore comprised.

Likewise the portfolios of the other parties are too large to cover in a way we democratically deserve.

The issue has not advanced because of dispute over whether there should be 21 or 25 MLAs. It is a debate we have to have - sooner rather than later.

Very soon our media will become subsumed with covering the Federal Election.

By the time that is over we'll be too close to the next ACT election for a meaningful and objective discussion.

We need to start the debate now.

The ACT Government has announced the launch of the ACT Nation Building Stimulus Package website. This website will provide Canberrans the opportunity to review the projects, and progress of those projects, being implemented by the ACT Government as part of its obligation under the Federal Government's $42 billion stimulus package.

Canberrans can locate the website at www.stimulus.act.gov.au.

All Canberrans and particularly local businesses are encouraged to access the website to see what projects will be undertaken in the Canberra region and what opportunities may exist.

The Gungahlin Community Council welcomes today’s opening of the 360 degree Living store in Gungahlin. This investment by TransACT, Service One Members Banking and ActewAGL to open this new shopfront prior to Christmas is a welcome boost to local business, and is recognition by these companies of the continuing growth in the Gungahlin area.

Unlike the commercial sector, the ACT Government continues to fall behind the growing service needs of the Gungahlin area and remains non-committal on future ACT Government investment in certain key areas of service delivery for Gungahlin residents.

The recent decision by the ACT Government to relocate the Land Development Agency to Dickson is a major disappointment for Gungahlin. Gungahlin is the fastest growing area in Canberra, with significant residential and commercial development in progress or close to starting, making Gungahlin an ideal location for the LDA. The relocation of such an agency would have brought a welcome influx of trade to local businesses, particularly in the current economic climate.

The Gungahlin Community Council executive met with all ACT Government Ministers (except Health Minister Gallagher who did not attend) on 5th August to discuss a wide range of issues, concerns and needs for the Gungahlin community.

In the run-up to the October elections, the GCC addressed each Minister (some of whom we have seen very little of over the last two years) with issues specific to their portfolios.

The GCC has also launched a new online survey to canvass further the concerns of the community.

It is important for Gungahlin residents and business people to complete this short survey for us. The results of our regular community surveys guide our campaigning efforts - particularly in the lead-up to an election. They ensure that when GCC addresses our concerns to MLAs and candidates (like today), that we are truly representing the wishes of the community.

The survey results will also feed into the format of the GCC Molonglo and Ginninderra Meet the Candidates Evening on 8 October. You can find it on our website.

The issues GCC took to the Ministers included:

The Gungahlin aquatic and leisure centre will be funded to the tune of some $20 million, to follow a similar model to the CISAC centre in Belconnen, as announced by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Sports and Planning Minister Andrew Barr in Gungahlin today.

Just 18 months ago, then Planning Minister Simon Corbell told ABC 666 that Gungahlin would need a population of 100,000 to get a 50-metre pool. But we stuck to our guns - backed up by the support we were given through our Gungahlin Community Survey.

And here we are now, with the government committing to fund a full enclosed centre, with 50-metre pool, 25-metre learn to swim pool, and toddlers pool, plus other sporting facilities.

That's one major item 'ticked off our list' for the upcoming elections. But we have a number of other issues we'd like to resolve before election day.

You can add you weight to our campaigning by completing our latest community survey - see the box on the home page.

WIN News Story:

The ACT Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues will be holding a Community Cabinet Meeting in Gungahlin (at the Gungahlin Community Resource Centre on Ernst Cavanagh Street) this coming Monday, 4th August 2008 between 15:30 and 16:30.

RSVPs can be sent to govtsupport@act.gov.au This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone to Chris Wilson - Manager of the Chief Minister's Support and Protocol unit on 6205 0192. It has also been requested that individuals should also indicate the issues they would like to discuss when they RSVP.

Whilst the advertisement may have already appeared in the Canberra Times and Chronicle, the council was only sent an email from the Chief Minister's Support and Protocol unit advising of the event this morning (29 July). Given the recent Government announcements regarding improving community consultation, it appears the process is getting off to a rocky start given this tardy notification and short time in which to RSVP.

Representatives of several of the Community Councils met with reps for several ACT Government departments on 2 July to discuss better ways that the ACT Government could improve community engagement.

While ACTPLA has an effective model in the Planning and Development Forums (fora?), the level of engagement from other agencies has been variable.

Notes from the meeting follow.

Construction of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre was due to be completed by today.

There will be testing of security systems over the next 2-3 months, before official opening in September.

Meanwhile the recruitment process for new staff continues.

Attached is a DHCS newsletter (PDF 375 KB), with a good aerial photo of the complex.

The recent ACT Budget was something of a measure of how we've been going, given it is an election year...

The ACT Government's 2008-09 Budget has included over $55 million of new spending within Gungahlin.

This is the coverage on Win TV on our thoughts on the budget:

Further budget commentary and details follow:

The ACT Government has announced adoption of a pivotal recommendation from their Housing Affordability Taskforce - a land rental scheme.

In a flashback to the leasehold payments scheme that ACT had up until 1970, people of low household income (less than $75,000pa) will be able to make small annual payments for their land, so they can focus their repayments on the house component.

Bimberi is the new "Youth Detention Centre" in Mitchell, and as it nears completion, they are recruiting staff now.

This from the DHCS website:

Bimberi will replace the current Youth Detention Centre at Symonston. It will be the first Human Rights Compliant youth detention centre in Australia. As well as being designed to meet Human Rights standards, Bimberi will have the latest in security technology for all security levels from low to maximum. Bimberi will have state-of-the-art recreation, education, training and health facilities.

(Not to mention, the guests being the first people in Gungahlin to get a swimming pool!)

The ACT Government is subisdising Canberra residents to fit immobilisers in older cars that don't already have them.

These older cars are prime targets for car theft, with the cars being used fo joy rodes and as transport for other more serious crimes, so the scheme makes good sense as a way of reducing multiple crimes.

The full ACT Government media release follows: