NEWSLETTER NUMBER 36                               27 AUGUST 2009


DRAFT MASTER PLAN FOR STROMLO FOREST PARK

This Newsletter reports on progress in relation to the draft Master Plan for future development of Stromlo Forest Park.  The map that seems to be all there is to this Master Plan is on the Stromlo Forest Park website at http://www.stromloforestpark.com.au for comment until 4 September.

Since the last Newsletter Neale Guthrie and Rod Florence of Territory Venues and Events and Claire Middleton of Parson Brinkerhoff and Chris Millman of Cox Humphries Moss met with representatives of equestrian users of Stromlo on Monday 24 August.  Present were:
Christine Lawrence, ACT Equestrian Association,
Beth Stone, ACT Equestrian Association
Cathy Banwell, ACT Endurance Riders Association
Roz Edmunds, ACT Endurance Riders Association
Cheryl Woolard, Stromlo Horse Riders Group and Bibaringa agistee
Jenny Costin, Bicentennial National Trail Coordinator and Monaro Horse Trekkers
Jane Hedges, Government Paddock Users’ Group
Heather McLeod, Government Paddock Users’ Group and Canberra Lakes Pony Club
Caroline Fulton, Kerribee agistee
John Lowe, Rural Lessee, National Equestrian Centre

The meeting lasted two hours.  The consultants spent a lot of time explaining why their brief from the government required them to include certain features in the plan and the TVE representatives spent a lot of time saying that the infrastructure included in he Plan was very expensive and might never happen and it wasn’t their intention to exclude equestrian from the Park.  

Equestrian representatives made it very clear that leaving the gondola, the luge, the accommodation and the 12k racing track where they were effectively denied us access to the Park and that as long as they remained our enjoyable use of the place was on borrowed time.  This is entirely inconsistent with commitments repeatedly made to the equestrian community since the 2003 bushfires.

The meeting did not resolve anything but both TVE and the consultants are now very clear about the level of anger in the equestrian community.  They have also been left in no doubt about the impact of the current draft Plan.  Neale Guthrie has undertaken to come back again in early September to talk again after the consultation period is closed.

While there will be another draft Master Plan THE SECOND DRAFT WILL NOT BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.  This draft will be presented to the Government for a decision on whether or not to adopt it.  This means that YOU WILL NOT, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, GET ANOTHER CHANCE AFTER 4 SEPTEMBER TO MAKE YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS MATTER KNOWN.

If you have not filled in the comment document on the website please try to do so asap.  If it is too complicated for you or your computer you can simply send an email direct to stromlo@pb.com.au to complain about the over development which is evicting equestrians from Stromlo Forest Park and reneging on public commitments made by the Chief Minister.

You can also email the Chief Minister at stanhope@act.gov.au and Andrew Barr, the Minister for Sport at barr@act.gov.au.

Depending on what comes out of the next consultation, the Stromlo Horse Riders Group and the ACT Equestrian Association may be mounting a major public campaign to ensure that noone is in any doubt about the feelings of the equestrian community in this matter.


Mountain Bike World Championships at Stromlo 1-6 September

In case you hadn’t noticed the white tent city building up around Stromlo Forest Park, this is a reminder that the place will be no place for horses between Tuesday 1 September and Sunday 6 September.  Mount Stromlo Road will also be very busy with buses taking competitors to the top of the downhill run.  Be careful if you ride out to Block 12.


Equestrian Signage on Mount Stromlo Road

At a meeting on 6 August, Roads ACT advised that they will be installing signage at the horse crossing points on the Mount Stromlo Road.  ACTEW is also initiating a campaign to get drivers on the road to slow down – which will temporary include electronic signs to let drivers know how far they are exceeding the speed limit.


Cotter Road Traffic Management Plan

The ACT Equestrian Association has received a message from Emma Gosper of ACTEW in relation to the Cotter Road Traffic Management Plan:

During our Enlarged Cotter Dam Development Application (DA) consultation we spoke to you about revising our traffic data. We are currently updating the construction traffic numbers and assessment as a result of less materials being imported onto site. The assessment will allow us to provide more accurate information to you not only about traffic counts, but also noise. We will also be able to use this information in the development of our traffic management plan and noise management plan. We are still very committed to organising a planning session to assist with the development of the traffic management plan.  I will be in touch at a later date to arrange.  We hope to be undertaking the traffic