The Greens have joined Gungahlin businesses and residents and urged the Government to bring a safer and more community friendly design to Gungahlin town centre.

“It’s great that Gungahlin is getting a new library on Hibberson street, but the Government must also listen to the Gungahlin community and take measures to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists in this area, and to make the shopping strip more attractive and community friendly,” Greens member for Molonglo, Caroline Le Couteur MLA, said today.

“The ‘Business in Gungahlin’ (BiG) group, the Community Council and many residents in Gungahlin, are anxious about cars around Hibberson street and have suggested making the area pedestrian only during the day, or taking other measures to slow down and reduce traffic.”

“The Greens support town planning that will slow down or reduce cars and prioritise more vulnerable road users. This is in line with the ‘vision zero concept’ that the Government supports, and which aims to eliminate road fatalities and injuries.”

“The Government has also been undertaking Master planning in Gungahlin; this is a perfect time for the Government to abandon its car-focused mindset, actually act on its ‘vision zero’ promises, and make Gungahlin a real community friendly area.”

The Greens have also renewed calls for the government to come good on its Agreement promise to establish a government shopfront in Gungahlin.

“There is some work to do to make Gungahlin the community centre that it can, and should be.  The new Library should also be supported by the other things we expect in a town centre, such as a proper bus interchange and a government shopfront.”

“Gungahlin rightly feels neglected for services.  It’s important that as we play catch up, we get it right and plan properly for a vibrant and safe community hub,” Ms Le Couteur said.

The Greens have today supported maintaining the board of Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), which runs the diverse community facility in north Canberra.

EPIC successfully hosts some of Canberra’s headline events such as the National Folk Festival, the Canberra Show and Summernats, as well as a diverse range of smaller community events such as the Farmer’s Markets and a number of animal and sporting events.

“The Government had, to date, failed to provide enough good reasons for dissolving the board – a group that has a wide range of business and community expertise in Canberra – and integrating the management of EPIC into the department,” ACT Greens Spokesperson for Tourism, Sport & Recreation, Shane Rattenbury MLA said today.

“The suggested saving of $50k of public money is commendable, but the Government hasn’t appeared to yet give consideration to other options that might deliver the benefit of community and business input, while making the administrative savings they seek.”

The Greens have suggested to the Government that the board should remain for 12 months under the new administrative arrangement at least, to test the new arrangements and consider the options of reducing board fees.

“The priority here is that EPIC continues to grow and develop as a diverse community facility that has both an ACT and regional perspective,” said Mr Rattenbury.

The Greens welcome the new energy and focus from the Minister for Tourism, who now has EPIC in his portfolio. Now that the Government’s Bill has been defeated in the Assembly, the Greens look forward to working with the Government to consider further steps to improve both the facilities and the running of EPIC.

ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor Meredith Hunter MLA wants a strategic plan to promote and reinvigorate villages in the ACT.

“Villages have been under enormous pressure in recent times with the bushfires of 2003, the drought, school closures, road works and now the downturn in the economy,” Ms Hunter said today.

“The time is right to develop a strategic plan, in consultation with the enthusiastic village community groups, to better link Canberrans with our local villages.”

“Over the border we have seen success stories such as Bungendore and Murrumbateman come about from Local and State Governments working with active residents and business owners.”

“In the lead up to the 2013 Centenary of Canberra celebrations we should recognise the historical and cultural importance of villages such as Hall, Tharwa and Pialligo and the contribution they make to the character of the ACT.”

“Today I will bring the viability of villages in the ACT into the Legislative Assembly as a Matter of Public Importance and I look forward to engaging with the other parties on this subject,” Ms Hunter said.