❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding management of Araluen Botanic Park, particularly concerning the spring festival, parking, and entry fees. The Minister defends DEC's management and explains the context of the issues raised.
AnsweredQoN 578Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ARALUEN BOTANIC
PARK — MANAGEMENT
578. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to Araluen Botanic Park.
(1) Is the
minister aware of the community outrage about the failure of his department to
resolve parking and access issues connected with the hugely popular Araluen
spring festival?
(2) Is it true
that the Department of Environment and Conservation has refused to allow the
publicising of the spring festival and has blocked moves to raise entry fees to
match those charged at other DEC facilities?
(3) How does
the department's failure to support the spring festival support the
minister's Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority first objective, which
is to ''provide, improve and promote recreational and tourism services
and facilities on the designated land''?
(4) Does the
minister have confidence in DEC's management of Araluen; and, if so,
why?
PARK — MANAGEMENT
578. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to Araluen Botanic Park.
(1) Is the
minister aware of the community outrage about the failure of his department to
resolve parking and access issues connected with the hugely popular Araluen
spring festival?
(2) Is it true
that the Department of Environment and Conservation has refused to allow the
publicising of the spring festival and has blocked moves to raise entry fees to
match those charged at other DEC facilities?
(3) How does
the department's failure to support the spring festival support the
minister's Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority first objective, which
is to ''provide, improve and promote recreational and tourism services
and facilities on the designated land''?
(4) Does the
minister have confidence in DEC's management of Araluen; and, if so,
why?
AnswerView source ↗
I deliver this answer on behalf of the minister representing
the Minister for Environment, and on behalf of the Minister for Environment I
thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
minister is aware of community concern regarding parking on Croyden Road and
disturbance to local residents resulting from traffic congestion on local roads
over six to eight weeks in spring. The Department of Environment and
Conservation has been working with the City of Armadale on the preparation of a
traffic management plan to resolve parking and traffic issues resulting from
peak visitation.
(2) The
Araluen Botanic Park Foundation delivers management services via a contract
with DEC. The foundation sought approval to double the entrance fee over the
five-week peak tulip flowering period to recoup additional costs associated
with the purchase of tulips and traffic management for spring 2012. In 2010 and
2011, the foundation was able to absorb the costs associated with traffic
management. Given that DEC requested similar arrangements be implemented this
spring, the department considered it inappropriate to support the premium-price
request.
(3) There has
not been a spring festival since 2009 because the City of Armadale and the
Western Australian Planning Commission withdrew support for traffic management
that allowed parking on Croyden Road, due to safety concerns and traffic
congestion issues. Since commencing management of the park in 2010, DEC has
been working with the foundation and the City of Armadale to establish
appropriate management arrangements during spring. DEC and the City of Armadale
will continue monitoring events to help achieve this, including the trial of new
traffic arrangements at Araluen Botanic Park in 2012.
(4) Yes. DEC
has implemented procedures focusing on improved operational efficiency, nature
conservation and the provision of visitor services including capital
improvements.
the Minister for Environment, and on behalf of the Minister for Environment I
thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
minister is aware of community concern regarding parking on Croyden Road and
disturbance to local residents resulting from traffic congestion on local roads
over six to eight weeks in spring. The Department of Environment and
Conservation has been working with the City of Armadale on the preparation of a
traffic management plan to resolve parking and traffic issues resulting from
peak visitation.
(2) The
Araluen Botanic Park Foundation delivers management services via a contract
with DEC. The foundation sought approval to double the entrance fee over the
five-week peak tulip flowering period to recoup additional costs associated
with the purchase of tulips and traffic management for spring 2012. In 2010 and
2011, the foundation was able to absorb the costs associated with traffic
management. Given that DEC requested similar arrangements be implemented this
spring, the department considered it inappropriate to support the premium-price
request.
(3) There has
not been a spring festival since 2009 because the City of Armadale and the
Western Australian Planning Commission withdrew support for traffic management
that allowed parking on Croyden Road, due to safety concerns and traffic
congestion issues. Since commencing management of the park in 2010, DEC has
been working with the foundation and the City of Armadale to establish
appropriate management arrangements during spring. DEC and the City of Armadale
will continue monitoring events to help achieve this, including the trial of new
traffic arrangements at Araluen Botanic Park in 2012.
(4) Yes. DEC
has implemented procedures focusing on improved operational efficiency, nature
conservation and the provision of visitor services including capital
improvements.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.