Are you one of the thousands of people who have delighted in the beautiful sunflower maze that blooms in the Majura Valley each autumn? Would you rather see a self-storage warehouse there instead? Or maybe bulky goods retail? How about a fuel depot?
Who went to the massively popular one-day Majura Valley Bush Festival in 2017? I did, along with thousands of others. People couldn't get enough of the sheep dogs or the shearing; the heritage farm equipment or the Cobb and Co coach rides.
Would it be better if that property became a national freight hub? Was concreted into something more light-industrial-ish and Fyshwick-like? You know, less rural.
Would you rather drive down the Majura Parkway seeing an avenue of IKEA-like warehouses heralding the entry to Canberra? Or would you like to see the current farms allowed to prosper and grow and create thriving farmgate and agri-tourism ventures right on the doorstep of the national capital? In the constant race to modernise and update, do we value our bush and farming assets or not?
For almost 20 years, farmers and other residents in the Majura Valley have not had a lease. Since 2005, at any point, the ACT government could evict them with 90 days' notice.
Paul Keir's property, which hosted the Majura Valley Bush Festival, and Anne McGrath's, which has the sunflower maze as well as free-range egg and lamb production, are among those properties without a lease.
The ongoing sticking points are getting some of the farmland on Commonwealth land transferred to the ACT and the ACT government's still undeclared plans for the valley.
The ACT government has long flagged it wants to develop parts of the eastern flank of Canberra, from the Majura Valley to Hume.
The first major study was completed in 2010 and the community was consulted. It was consulted again last year for a new planning study for the area.
Each time, the community told the government it valued the farmers and the way they contributed to the Bush Capital. Development, the government was told, should happen closer to Fyshwick, not in the Majura Valley.
As recently as last year, the East Canberra District Strategy was absolutely clear that what people particularly valued about the area was "farming land that offers agribusiness, agritourism and educational experiences that could be further developed into sustainable, niche opportunities for the enjoyment of the Canberra community".
This is exactly what the farmers have been fighting to create for Canberra. But what is the point of spending money on developing something that could be stripped from under you? And what bank will lend money to such an unreliable concern?
The farmers in 2022 were offered 25-year leases by then planning minister Mick Gentleman but his successor Chris Steel has refused to honour that offer.
The Liberals say they will give the farmers 25-year leases if they win government in October. The Greens say they want the farmers to stay in the valley but have not committed to a timeframe.
It's time for the Barr Labor government, before the election, to reveal its plans for the Majura Valley. Even if the Commonwealth land transfers are approved, there's no guarantee the farmers get to stay on their properties on a lease. With the stumbling blocks removed, the government could decide to let light industry take over the valley. It's a potential. For sure.
"There is no doubt in my mind we are fighting the developers," the farmers' advocate Sherry McArdle-English said.
"No doubt."
