00:00A bunch more online. It's so exciting to be part of this fantastic campaign and thank you and again
00:06congratulations Amelia and to all of the SAFE Big Splash team. I had the pleasure of working with
00:13Amelia on a previous campaign for free period products in public schools which again was
00:20successful and so I'm really happy to be working with her again on the Big Splash campaign. Now
00:25like many of you here I grew up in Belconnen in West Belconnen and I have the best memories growing
00:31up in this part of our hood. I learned to swim at Kipak's swim centre which doesn't exist anymore
00:37and I know that's a real fear for what might happen to Big Splash. As a teenager I do spend
00:43a lot of
00:44time at Big Splash and Amelia and I were sharing some memories and despite the age difference
00:48very similar memories of scorching ourselves on the hot concrete before jumping back in the pool.
00:55I've had date nights at movie night. Dino if you're here I'm still hiding for you.
01:00My kids grew up with Big Splash too and as you would imagine I've been copying a bit of heat
01:06from
01:07all of it from them as well about the closure of Big Splash. So as I just wanted to let
01:12you know that
01:13I'm as committed as all of you to bringing Big Splash back to how we remember it and also even
01:18better.
01:19Like all of us Big Splash is a big part of the vibe of where I grew up, where we
01:24all grew up and I know
01:26that we all want to see it alive for future generations. Now I know that you all know that
01:31there's currently a regulatory action process being taken by Access Canberra on behalf of the Independent
01:38Planning Authority. You may also know that on Friday the 30th of January Access Canberra notified the owner
01:45that they were considering terminating the Crown lease. Then under the law the owner has 15 days to
01:53respond which ends as you all know is tomorrow on Friday. Now the proponent also has the right to
02:01either respond or comply with the proposed regulatory action and even though all of us are really angry
02:08with the owners they still have the right to due process. Under the law the owner is also entitled to
02:16ask for an extension of 15 days but I haven't heard that that's happened yet. I guess we'll find out
02:21by
02:22the end of tomorrow. The Independent Planning Authority will then consider the owner's response over the
02:28coming days and weeks. So there won't be a decision tomorrow and I know that's disappointing for
02:33everybody. It is for me too and Anotara feels the same way. But this is the first time that the
02:40Independent Planning Authority is using these new powers given to it under the 2023 Planning Act.
02:46These powers have never been used before in this way. The Planning Authority is acting on legal advice
02:53which is appropriate every single step of the way, being very careful and considered with its approach.
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