ACT Election 2020: Liberals say they will trial watersports on Lake Ginninderra

Liberal leader Alistair Coe said the party wanted to utilise waterways in the territory and if the Liberals won the October 17 poll it would begin consultation on a trial shortly after the election.

But Labor slammed the announcement and claimed it did not have wide support in the Belconnen community.

It is similar to a policy the Belco Party announced two weeks ago. The party said it would open up Canberra's waterways for private recreational use for boats and personal watercraft. But Mr Coe dismissed suggestions the trial was announced because of the Belco Party's policy.

"The Canberra Liberals have been talking about how we make better utilisation of Canberra's assets and resources for a long time," he said.

"My colleague [Liberal spokesman for sport and recreation] James Milligan released a comprehensive, overarching policy about sport and recreation last year, this very important document also makes reference to how we better utilise our waterways."

A water-skiing trial was conducted on Lake Ginninderra in 2012. After the trial it was decided that water-skiers training for competition could do so on Lake Ginninderra when Molonglo Reach was closed. Mr Coe said that trial was limited and the findings were now out of date.

Labor MLA for Ginninderra Tara Cheyne said she was perplexed by the Liberals announcement. She said it was not a priority for the Belconnen community and claimed only one person had raised the topic with her during her time as MLA.

"I'm perplexed this is their priority for Belconnen and at a time when we're in the middle of a pandemic and trying to tackle climate change," she said.

"I'd be surprised if there was much support for it at all to be honest."

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The electorate of Ginninderra was the focus of the Canberra Liberals announcements on Thursday.

Liberal MLA for Ginninderra Elizabeth Kikkert said the party would make improvements to local shops and Florey, McKellar and Spence ovals. She also said footpaths would be improved across the electorate.

As well, the Canberra Liberals announced it would move the multicultural affairs portfolio to the Chief Minister's directorate, it sits under the Community Services Directorate at present. Mr Coe said the move would "elevate the status" of multicultural affairs.

"We want to make sure multicultural Canberrans are front and centre in all our thinking so that's why it's so important we move the office into the Chief Minister's directorate where it will play a far more pivotal role than it currently is in the Community Services Directorate."

A Labor spokeswoman said the ACT government operated as one public service and would soon be working in the one building.

"The Office of Multicultural Affairs will be in the same building as the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate which will allow it to provide the best policy and operational support to deliver for the community," she said.