Yerrabi Pond is the only major public recreation area in Gungahlin and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Unlike Lake Burley Griffin, and Lake Ginninderra, which are well maintained and improved on a continuing basis, Yerrabi Pond has languished.
Minister Gentleman in a letter of 16th December 2020 mentions "the ever increasingly popular Yerrabi Ponds area". Then goes on to say "There are no plans to install more toilet facilities at Yerrabi Ponds in the near future".
Yerrabi Pond was established in 1999. Since then there has been an explosive growth in local population. What might have been a reasonable facility 22 years ago is now neglected and inadequate.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to Call upon the Government to:
(1) aid and support the establishment of "The Friends of Yerrabi Pond association", to highlight the need for upgrading the area;
(2) provide more toilet and hand washing facilities;
(3) provide signage particularly on shared pathways concerning rights of pedestrians and instructions re: dogs and their droppings;
(4) upgrade the western children's playground with the provision of a toilet and hand washing facilities;
(5) upgrade the many areas around the Pond that are currently overgrown with weeds, bushes etc.
Provision of the above improvements would allow many more older
users to Walk around the Pond because of a western toilet.