Chris Steel MLA Minister for City Services ACT Government Canberra ACT 2601 2 April 2020 [email protected]

Chris Steel MLA Minister for City Services ACT Government Canberra ACT 2601 2 April 2020 Steel@Act.Gov.Au

www.westoncreek.org.au [email protected] PO Box 3701 Weston Creek ACT 2611 Telephone (02) 6288 8975

Dear Chris,

RE: Floriade 2020

I am writing on behalf of Council to raise a unique opportunity presented by the decision to cancel the 2020 Floriade event held in September. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6706465/floriade-bulbs-to-be-planted- across-city-after-event-cancellation/

It has been reported that the ACT Government will be distributing pre-ordered bulbs throughout Canberra and that work is getting underway to commence this roll out.

While the cancellation of this event for the first time in 32 years will have a terrible impact on the ACT economy, Council is of the opinion it may offer a unique opportunity for community engagement and audience participation.

Council would like to propose an online design competition for urban Floriade pop ups.

We propose that ACT Government works with Community Councils and other local stakeholders Canberra wide to co-ordinate an online competition over the next 4 weeks.

We have identified the following simple actions required to activate a repurposed Floriade:

 Identify sites within districts suitable for small Floriade pop ups – recommend at least 1 site per suburb. Ideally these should be roadside to allow easy viewing  Co-ordinate an online competition by which individuals and groups can

Established 1991 ■ ABN: 52 841 915 317 ■ Weston Creek Citizens Council Inc. ■ Reg. no. A 2637 Weston Creek Community Council is funded and supported by the ACT Government Steel letter re repurposing Floriade Bulbs and Display April 2020

enter designs. Think of it like a coloring-in competition! The designs can be an interpretation of this years existing Floriade theme or we can have a new theme. Canberra: Capture Creativity?  Deliver the projects in small teams – through Events ACT and TAMS. Volunteers can also be co-ordinated to assist. Volunteer database will be increased due to COVID 19 conditions.  Drive by Floriade – People can drive by the sites observing social isolation principles if they still apply in September. We could even create a bus route for people to see the flowers if the COVID-19 situation has abated.

This type of online event has a number of benefits to the community including:

 A sense of connectedness with community during this difficult time  Participation in the spirit of healthy competition  Acknowledgement, recognition and reward for participants  Renewal and repurposing of one of Canberra’s most successful annual events.

Council sees this as a unique opportunity for both the Canberra Community and the ACT Government to display leadership nationally in the Tourism and Events forum by repurposing a national event in ever changing conditions. We also see that this would be a great way to involve everyone while we are “Staying At Home.”

For our Council we see this as an opportunity to highlight and open up Trenerry Square. We also see the opportunity for places such as the Calder Street Park in Holder and the local shopping centres such as Chapman Duffy and Waramanga to name a few. This would certainly bring Floriade and its spirit to the community and brighten, I would hope, our emergence from over 5 months of self isolation.

We hope you will seriously consider the above suggestion and Council member Simone Hunter [email protected] , is happy to consult further on how to fully develop this idea.

Best Wishes

Tom Anderson Chair Weston Creek Community Council

CC Andrew Barr MLA, Chief Minister, Minister for Tourism Bec Cody MLA Jeremy Hanson CSC MLA Giulia Jones MLA Caroline Le Couteur MLA Chairs of Community Councils