Greens Member for Brindabella, Amanda Bresnan MLA, will introduce a motion into the legislative assembly on Wednesday to address the unacceptably high levels of wood smoke in the Tuggeranong Valley.

“Wood smoke pollution continues to be a problem in the Valley and the ACT Government must step up and expand on it’s commitment to the Wood Heater Replacement program,” Ms Bresnan said today.

“The tiny particles from wood smoke create a great deal of discomfort when breathed into the lungs. For people who suffer from respiratory and heart problems,  especially asthma,  this can be very serious.

“This motion recognises that wood smoke pollution is a serious problem and that the ACT has been lagging behind other states in addressing it.

“I acknowledge that the Government has been working  to  address the build up of wood smoke in Tuggeranong  through the Don’t Burn Tonight campaign and ACT Wood Heater Replacement Program.

“These programs have had some success,  but the Government hasn’t been active enough in promoting them or using them as a tool to educate people about the impacts of wood smoke.

“The Greens are calling on the government  to make air quality information publicly available , and we are pleased that the Government will look at making this information available on a daily or weekly basis.

“By providing information through more targeted education programs people can make more considered decisions about their heating, health and environment.

“The Greens are committed to addressing the health and environmental impact of excessive wood smoke in the  Tuggeranong Valley,” Ms Bresnan said.

Amanda Bresnan, ACT Greens MLA for Brindabella, successfully moved a motion in the Legislative Assembly today that will see a Master Plan for Erindale be conducted in 2010-11.

“Erindale is a hub for business and community, and is getting bigger every year.  There are some major changes for the centre afoot, and it’s important that we develop a first rate plan,” Ms Bresnan said.

“Current residents are concerned about what the suburb will look like in the future. They want assurance that growth will be achieved in an orderly and respectful manner.”

“I have conducted consultation with local businesses and active groups, and collected constituent responses that have informed the motion I presented today.”

The motion calls for the Government to conduct a master planning process for Erindale in conjunction with the Master Plan it is conducting for the Tuggeranong Town Centre.

“I think there are great benefits that can be achieved in doing the two Southside plans together, especially because of the common transport concerns they share.”

“Erindale is in line for a park and ride facility and a new bus interchange as part of the 2031 Public Transport Plan, but no one seems to know where in Erindale these facilities will go.”

“The Tuggeranong region rarely receives the attention it deserves from governments and planning departments.  My instigation of an Erindale Master Plan is aimed at addressing that for the future,” Ms Bresnan said.

ACT Greens MLA for Brindabella Amanda Bresnan has pointed to a new rival data centre proposal featured in the Canberra Times today as a positive sign that Canberra can be home to new green industries.

“The proponents of this new proposal are talking about solar energy, rather than gas” Ms Bresnan said today.

“And they appear keen to make sure that community consultation of proposed sites is properly handled.”

“Our position all along has been that linking data centres with renewable energies is a good way forward for the ACT. All we need in addition are rigorous site selection and environmental assessment processes.”

“It is still our view that the ACT Government should urgently identify alternate sites for the controversial Mugga Lane data centre, which has rasied so many concerns with nearby residents.”
 
“However, I think today’s news should go some way towards reassuring Canberrans that with good processes in place we won’t have trouble attracting businesses here” Ms Bresnan said.

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey expressed her delight with today’s announcement that ACTPLA will require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of ActewAGL’s gas fired power plant and data centre proposal.

“In May when the community was confronted by the original larger project, I called for the ACT Government to commit to a full EIS but it refused” Dr Foskey said today.

“Three months have gone by. The proposal has been downscaled and revamped, and now an EIS has been called for.”

“I’d like to congratulate ACTPLA and the Minister on taking the right steps eventually. But Government Ministers could have taken a more proactive approach on this front and committed to an EIS at a much earlier stage, since there were clearly significant environmental concerns”

“While the EIS has been called for at the allotted time in the established DA process, it was obvious it was needed back in May. The Planning Minister could have called for it then, thus reducing the potential for delay while the EIS was prepared.”

“I think ActewAGL will be distressed that the EIS is only being triggered now since the LAST thing they wanted was a delay. Perhaps in future it would serve them better to pay attention to the Greens rather than the Government when environmental impact needs to be assessed”

“I congratulate the local residents of Macarthur and Fadden for their work on raising issues of concern to them and the wider ACT community, and appreciate that Health Minister Katy Gallagher took her health portfolio seriously and showed leadership in Government.”

“All major projects need to be properly assessed in terms of health, environmental and social impact; and it is never adequate where that assessment is done by the project’s proponent,” Dr Foskey said.