ACT Government promises playing fields for new West Belconnen suburb after residents' petition

The ACT Government has promised to build a 3900 square metre oval in the new Ginninderry (West Belconnen) suburb of Strathnairn after an online petition was launched calling for action on the lack of playing fields in the area.

Resident and mother of three Aimee has been canvassing for signatures since finding out plans for a still-to-be-constructed Strathnairn school only included a single small oval no larger than a traditional residential block.

“This is completely unacceptable for a school expected to accommodate over 900 children and for an area projected to house over 30,000 residents within the coming years,” she said.

“The land adjacent to our school site, known as the Future Urban Area and currently managed by the Barr Government’s Ginninderry Joint Venture Partner (Riverview Group), is the ideal location for these much-needed playing fields.

“The developer is their joint venture partner. The government needs to intervene to say, ‘We want that land’.”

Region put questions to the ACT Government on whether it would respond to this petition demand on Thursday morning (22 August). By Thursday night, Education Minister Yvette Berry made an announcement on her Facebook page.

“The [Strathnairn] school will have 3900 square metre playing field, approximately the size of a junior football pitch, an 860 square metre kickabout space, an 850 square metre combined basketball/netball court … in the Early Childhood Education and Care service, there will be four play spaces – two with equipment and two with nature play. There will also be a separate playground for the preschool,” she posted.

Aimee, however, is not convinced.

“These elements are not included within the approved school design, and therefore, the government cannot guarantee they will proceed. Ms Berry has indicated these will be built on the space previously labelled an environmental exclusion zone, situated between the school site and Future Urban Area. Ms Berry has not stated when these proposed additions to the school would be constructed,” she said.

“Strathnairn residents welcome this new promise of additional outdoor playing facilities at the planned Strathnairn School, which demonstrates the impact the petition has had to date, but remain cautiously optimistic about delivery, given the broken 2020 election promise regarding the school construction timeline.”

Before the 2020 election, the ACT Government promised a Strathnairn school would be built within the next term of government. The opening date was later delayed to 2026, with an ACT Government spokesperson blaming “development and planning delays”.

Aimee says the ACT Government has neglected Strathnairn on a number of fronts.

“The first residents moved here in 2019. In the five years since, we still haven’t got shops, a school or a doctor. We don’t have proper bus services, there’s no direct connection to Belconnen to the city. Nothing is in walking distance,” she said.

These sentiments were echoed by Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain, a member for Ginninderra, which includes Strathnairn.

“Labor and the Greens are failing Strathnairn residents, most notably with Ms Berry’s broken promise from the last election of a primary school in Strathnairn to be ready by 2025. Unfortunately for local residents, the school won’t even begin construction by then, if we’re lucky, considering Ms Berry’s terrible track record,” he said.

“Labor and the Greens have failed to deliver any meaningful amenities, facilities or services for Strathnairn residents. No school. No shops. No sportsgrounds. No idea of what Strathnairn residents want or need.

“In consultation with local Ginninderry community leaders, I have asked Ms Berry questions in the Assembly and written to her directly a number of times about the immediate need for a primary school and local or group centre in the area. Ms Berry’s responses are as useful to me as they are to the community – deflective, disinterested and disrespectful to Strathnairn residents crying out for genuine government support.

“The Canberra Liberals are presenting a fresh opportunity for residents in Strathnairn and West Belconnen more broadly to ensure this wonderful area does not continue to get left behind by Labor and the Greens.”

While she continues to push for the new oval, Aimee doubts a local school will be built in time for her family.

“No construction has started. My house took two years to build. I don’t believe they can build a school in 18 months,” she said.