The Tuggeranong Community Council has taken its fight against plans for a residential development at Tralee all the way to Federal Parliament. The TCC Vice President, Col Petrie and I, had a very successful meeting recently with senior staff of the office of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development and Local Government, Hon Anthony Albanese MP. The meeting was arranged at the TCC’s request by the Federal Member for Canberra, Annette Ellis MP who also participated in the discussions. We were very pleased with the hearing that we were given and encouraged by the support from our local member and the Minister’s office.
During the discussions I outlined that the TCC was opposed to the construction of homes at Tralee and under the flight-path of Canberra Airport. The TCC’s position was reaffirmed in a survey of Tuggeranong residents it had conducted in late 2009. The message from the survey was loud and clear, Tuggeranong residents are concerned that if homes are built a Tralee that it will eventually lead to the relocation of aircraft flight paths over Tuggeranong.
TCC Vice President, Col Petrie, spoke of his many years experience as a building inspector and the impact of aircraft noise in Sydney that led to an expensive sound-proofing program of homes. We suggested a way to break the impasse was to allow the land at Tralee to be developed as an extension to the Hume Industrial Estate.
Ms Ellis and the Minister’s staff supported our concerns and reaffirmed the Minister’s view, as stated in the Aviation White Paper, that housing is considered an inappropriate development near airports and especially under airport flight paths. We left the meeting encouraged by the support that Tuggeranong residents had been given by Ms Ellis and the Minister’s Office. Meanwhile the TCC will keep a watching brief on Tralee, its possible impact on Canberra Airport and Tuggeranong residents.
The issue of random roadside drug testing in the ACT will be further considered at the next meeting of the Tuggeranong Community Council on Tuesday 2 March. While drink driving remains a major factor in road accidents in Australia, drug driving is also a cause for concern, particularly in the ACT. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Australia rates first place in the world for abuse of MDMA (Ecstasy) out of 99 countries, 2nd place for abuse of Amphetamines and 10th place for abuse of Cannabis. Meanwhile, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the ACT ranks number one in Australia for abuse of Ecstasy, 3rd for abuse of Amphetamines and 4th place for abuse of Cannabis. Not only are Council members concerned about drug abuse in the ACT, they are also concerned that people are driving on our roads while under the influence of these illegal drugs.
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Happy New Year and welcome to 2010.
I expect a busy year ahead for the Tuggeranong Community Council as we deal with issues that impact on our community and work to build a strong, positive, inclusive and effective voice for Tuggeranong residents. I also want to build a council that is run by its members and one that works hand-in-hand with other community organisations and groups. To this end we will begin 2010 with the launch of the new TCC committee structure at our first meeting for year on Thursday 4th February. The new structure is designed to give members a greater role in the running of the Council and in the decision making process. I believe this structure will go a long way in improving our links with government, other community organisations and Tuggeranong residents.
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At the 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Tuggeranong Community Council, Darryl Johnston was elected as the new President of the Council.
As his first act as the incoming President of the TCC, Darryl gave the following speech:
“Thank you.
I decided to stand for the position of Tuggeranong Community Council President because, like many of you, I was interested in the future direction of the Council.
In accepting the role of President I am now asking for your help to build on the Council, to build it into a Council that is open, inclusive, effective and represents the views and aspirations of the community it was set up to serve.
I see a future Council in which every member has an important role to play and you will be asked to do so, where every member has input into the operation of the Council, the decisions that are made and where members can air their views and you will be given those opportunities.
I see a future Tuggeranong Community Council as being an effective and truly independent organisation that will speak out on issues that impact on the Tuggeranong community without fear or favour.
I see a future Council being run by its members.
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