Senator for the ACT, Kate Lundy has commended the announcement by Immigration Bridge Australia (IBA) who today revealed plans for a land-based national monument to immigrants within Canberra’s Parliamentary Triangle in place of a bridge over Lake Burley Griffin.
The monument, Immigration Place is envisaged to be an interactive site where people can come to reflect on the contribution of immigrants in Australian and learn about their stories and experiences.
Senator Lundy is Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories which held a Parliamentary Inquiry last year into the Immigration Bridge Proposal.
The Inquiry recommended the IBA reconcile the competing issues relating to lake users and the vista and heritage values of the Lake and its foreshores and if the IBA found that this challenge could not be met or its development application for the proposed bridge is unsuccessful, then the IBA consider changing the location of the bridge or propose an alternative memorial to migration.
Senator Lundy said “While the objective of recognising the contribution that migrants have made to Australia’s development is worthy, the proposal to build a bridge in this location had provoked concerns by parts of the community.”
Media contact: Annika Hutchins 0407 458 882
