The ACT Greens have today called on the ACT Government to be transparent with the community about its plans to replace green space with a car park in Weston Creek.
ACT Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur will today ask Minister for Roads Chris Steel and fellow Member for Murrumbidgee to explain why a tender is being brought forward before a Development Application (DA) has even been signed off.
There is considerable community opposition to a car park on this site. The ACT Greens join with a number of prominent community groups in opposing the loss of trees and green space for a car park.
Ms Le Couteur recently tabled a petition to save the Cooleman Court trees from a car park – it is now the most signed ACT Assembly petition in the last 12 months, with more than 1,000 Canberrans signing on to save our local green space.
As stated by ACT Greens Planning Spokesperson Caroline Le Couteur:
“The proposal is described as a ‘temporary car park’ but once the trees are gone, they are gone. It is outrageous that the Government is asking for tenders to build this car park before the planning process is even complete. This shows the Government’s contempt for the community’s views in relation to this issue.”
“Cooleman Court is busy because the people of Coombs and Wright have no shops close to home. The solution is urgent action on shops in Molonglo, not cutting down trees at Cooleman Court.”
As stated by ACT Greens candidate for Murrumbidgee, Emma Davidson:
“The community deserves to know what is being planned for their park. Going to tender before the DA process is signed off is not the way to work with the community. We need our green spaces more than ever.”
