43. North Belconnen Landcare Group (Ginninderra Catchment Inc)
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| What services do you believe are most important for the Territory? | I believe the environment is a top priority especially the funding of the Ginninderra Catchment of which my Landcare group is a part. Our landcare group meets 3 times a week. Mondays we cater for people with health and mental health issues, Wednesdays we cater for Mums and bubs and home schooled children and Saturdays is open to all including school aged children who benefit from doing Landcare as they have ADHD and similar issues. All these groups benefit from doing landcare weeding, planting, watering and mulching. We tackle some of the worst weeds such as Chilean Needlegrass, African Love Grass and St Johns Wort. It is a win win situation for the environment and the health and mental health of those involved. Within the paid staff of the Ginninderra Catchment we could not operate. The North Belconnen Landcare Group is just one of many such landcare groups within the Ginninderra Catchment and the other Catchment Offices in this district. |
| How can the Government deliver current services more efficiently or in ways that better meet the needs of our community? | By continuing to fund the Ginninderra Catchment salaried staff. Much is done by volunteers but the paid staff and Office support is very valuable in enabling the Landcare Groups to operate. |
| Are there particular services that you think the Government should stop delivering or should deliver in a different way? | I think the Ginninderra Catchment and the other Catchment groups within the ACT work very well but are in danger of losing their funding from the ACT government. Without this funding they could not continue and the environment would suffer. |
| What new ideas, services or programs should the Government consider to meet emerging or evolving community needs? | Funding of the Catchment authorities in their present form. They work efficiently and are very effective in delivering good environmental outcomes to the ACT. Input provided by Lenore Hodgkinson, convenor of North Belconnen Landcare Group within the Ginninderra Catchment Inc. |