Christine Lawrence

President

ACT Equestrian Association

62885799

Dear Christine

On behalf of the Animal Justice Party, I am responding to the ACT Equestrian Association correspondence to politicians.

In this 2016 ACT election, the Animal Justice Party stands for the interests of all animals and for Canberra to refocus upon being a genuine and unique Bush Capital. Our election campaign slogan summarises our position: Animal Justice Party – vital for animals, great for people.

The Animal Justice Party has as an underpinning principle that the future of Canberra is a place as equally for animals as it is for people. This means suburban planning and such developments should only be undertaken in such a way as to support a genuine Bush Capital aim.

We note your comments regarding surrender of land within the Australian Capital Territory and feel concerned, as you appear to, that this presently occurs on an ad hoc basis and within a very narrow planning framework which benefits a comparatively few key stakeholders.

We appreciate most stakeholders seek at base to enjoy a peaceful and pleasant amenity for their various activities and there is room for sharing the available land of the Capital Territory if the proper planning occurs. All too often however the one stakeholder which tends to be excluded from this concept is native animals, for animals are without a voice in these human generated social structures. To make the Bush Capital concept meaningful, the history, heritage and ecology of land has to be respected.

Within this context the Animal Justice Party supports the ACT Equestrian Association:

  1. In maintaining Equestrian Park, Curtin, as Canberra's elite horse riding community competition facility
  2. keeping forever open and safe the Bicentennial National Trail
  3. development of an overall concept plan that:
  4. links equestrian trails, safely, to existing facilities including the Bicentennial National Trail, Equestrian Park Curtin, pony club grounds, government horse paddocks and private agistment centres;
  5. closes the disconnect between the Molonglo River corridor and Stromlo Forest Park but not to the exclusion of native animals;
  6. provides for inclusion of equestrian access through new urban areas in Canberra; and
  7. includes specific provisions and infrastructure including signage to enable equestrians continued safe access through existing urban such as public open space and shared underpasses on major roads; and
  8. that overall existing government paddock space be retained

Because the Animal Justice Party is unconvinced that the present sprawling suburban planning is neither needed nor appropriate, our view is that extra spaces for industrial and housing developments have to be demonstrated as being the only possible option, that there is a concomitant significant community benefit provided to the community for any suggested loss of land and amenity and the impacts on animals is demonstrably taken into account and they are not disadvantaged including by loss of habitat or hindrance to corridor behaviour.

The Animal Justice Party is happy to continue discussions regarding the issues of the ACT Equestrian Association even following the election this year.

Yours sincerely

Geoff Pryor

Convenor

Animal Justice Party

October 11th 2016

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