Committee Reports

An address by Enrique Penalosa
At the Canberra Business Centre 9 March 2011
Enrique Penalosa is a former mayor of Bogotá, Columbia, and while in office the rejected the advice of a Japanese firm to build very expensive highways and instead “invested in the poor” by providing schools, libraries, footpaths and parks. Thus instead of providing infrastructure for the relatively privileged which made the poor feel like second class citizens, infrastructure was provided for the majority of people.
He emphasized that a city is a means to a way of life and should be planned with that in mind. “A good city is where people want to be outside.” “Footpaths are the most important element of a democratic city’s infrastructure… and of its transport system as well.” He considered that public good should prevail over private interest. For example, all waterfronts should be open to the public — not privately owned and exclusive.

On 9 February 2011, I attended the forum on the ACT Sustainable Waste Strategy held at the Belconnen Premier Inn. At the Forum Bruce Edgerton of the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water outlined the report on the topic. There followed a time for comment and questions. Matters raised included: the generation of waste; product stewardship, where sellers or producers take back the used product (when a new one is bought); disposal of TVs, computers, stereo equipment and batteries; litter, especially from fast food outlets; increased publicity about what can be put in recycling bins, particularly given Canberra’s mobile population; educating people about composting and community gardens (a participant advised there are 10 community gardens in Canberra); accessibility to recycling transfer stations; and salt in treated sewerage. Many participants were interested to hear that a second recycling bin can be obtained for $50 per year.