Community Alliance Party

Policies relating to Leisure issues will be published in this section.

This area covers the following topics:

• Arts and Culture
• Heritage
• Tourism
• Sport and Recreation

Key Policy Statements for Arts and Culture

The Community Alliance Party highly values the role of arts and culture in building and maintaining a vibrant and healthy community. The Alliance will work with artists, groups, communities, and government agencies to foster artistic excellence and help raise the profile, access and engagement with the arts in the broader community.

The Alliance does not take for granted the many national artistic and cultural institutions that Canberra is privileged to host. In government, the Alliance will support and protect such assets for the benefit of ACT residents and visitors, while assisting with the launch of new initiatives.

The Alliance supports:

• affordable and accessible district and neighbourhood arts spaces and libraries
• investigation of the feasibility of a versatile new international performance venue
• improved promotion of cultural events within and outside the ACT
• making arts education more exciting and rewarding through curriculum and in-school initiatives
• improved relations with NSW cultural communities through a regional arts strategy
• greater transparency and accountability in the management of the ACT Government’s 14 arts facilities
• design competitions for publicly funded buildings so that our physical public space is beautiful and functional
• improved public consultation in the selection and location of public art works.

Key Policy Statements for Heritage

The Community Alliance Party values the ACT’s history and heritage including Indigenous sites, buildings of architectural and cultural significance, and other features that have historic, scientific, aesthetic, social or traditional importance.

Our heritage is at risk because heritage is not adequately valued by the current ACT Government. This is particularly true for public places and buildings. Government funding has been inadequate, and heritage assessment and protection has been given a low priority.

The Alliance will address this situation by ensuring the integrity and efficiency of heritage assessment and management.

The Alliance supports:

• open and transparent appointment of Heritage Council members, and giving the council its own adequately resourced secretariat
• greater independence and extra resources for Heritage ACT and encouraging it to improve its approach to heritage identification, assessment and management
• improved investigation and protection of Indigenous heritage in the ACT
• additional funding to the ACT Heritage Grants program
• an examination of funding for the National Trust (ACT Branch)
• heritage awareness and promotion
• a celebration of the ACT Centenary in 2013.

Key Policy Statements for Tourism

The Community Alliance Party recognises the contribution that a healthy tourism industry can make to the ACT community and economy.

Although the ACT is host to numerous world-class tourist attractions, the number of people visiting the ACT is not forecast to increase for the next decade. The Alliance will work with the community, business, and government and non-government agencies to develop an integrated long-term tourism strategy for the ACT region that is environmentally sensitive, socially sustainable, and economically viable.

The Alliance supports:

• a regional approach to tourism in partnership with nearby governments
• improved promotion of cultural and sporting events in the ACT to residents and potential visitors
• an ACT Tourist Information Centre in Civic
• innovative initiatives for tourism, including nature riding and walking trails and ecotourism
• the promotion of Canberra as a gateway to the Australian Alps
• more accommodation for ‘grey nomads’ and visitors needing low-cost options
• an improved public transport system to give people better access to activities and attractions.

Key Policy Statements for Sport and Recreation

The Community Alliance Party values the contribution of sport and recreation to the ACT community and to the health and wellbeing of its citizens.

Chronic under-investment by the ACT Government has caused a decline in the quality and use of much of the sporting and recreational infrastructure. New and/or upgraded facilities are urgently required for many sports in many communities. The Alliance will work with communities and sporting organisations to ensure the sustainable provision of high quality facilities for sport, training, and recreation across the ACT. In government, the Alliance will:

• promote closer sporting links between junior clubs and school communities
• aim for well-maintained and environmentally-sustainable sports facilities at every public school
• support the inclusion of at least 30 minutes of physical activity in every child’s school day
• support investment in further developing coaching and training skills within the community
• support increased spending on safe sporting and recreational facilities combined with an effective activity-promotion campaign
• investigate the establishment of a multipurpose motor sport complex that meets the requirements of the community
• encourage the formation of a professional, financially sound A-League soccer team in the ACT
• support a sensitive upgrading of Manuka Oval to enable the hosting of major sporting events, including test cricket and AFL matches.