Page 1644 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 June 2021
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(c) direct the Suburban Land Agency to develop land in the Gungahlin Town Centre in a way that generates high quality outcomes for the community by:
(i) consulting widely with the Gungahlin community before future mixed use or commercial blocks are sold, and ensuring that outcomes from that consultation are reflected in an appropriate sales process;
(ii) considering selling land in larger blocks that encourage place-making development;
(iii) allowing an increase to the size of commercial premises in the lease restrictions for mixed-use developments; and
(iv) structuring all planned Gungahlin Town Centre land sales to ensure their primary purpose is employment generation, commercial and/or community facility use, while (1) consultation about the future of Gungahlin Town Centre and district is ongoing; and (2) incorporation of the Resolution into the Territory Plan is finalised;
(d) actively encourage employment in the Gungahlin Town Centre through regional consideration and implementation of the ACT’s economic development strategies;
(e) prepare and submit a prospectus for the Commonwealth Finance Minister on the relative benefits of moving new or growing Federal agencies to Gungahlin, to support further economic development in the region; and
(f) report to the Assembly by October 2021 on implementation of the Resolution.”
When the Greens went to the last election, a stronger democracy was amongst its promises. As part of this, we wanted to ensure that ACT government decision-making, legislation, policy and programs were informed by genuine, ongoing community engagement that was meaningful, respectful and transparent. That is also why we called for an adjournment of this matter: to make sure that we could protect the integrity of the scrutiny and oversight of our parliamentary committees and the independence of Canberra’s planning bodies.
In light of this, following on from what Associate Professor Kate Crowley wrote, that successful minority governments require creativity, pragmatism, calm and time, the adjournment of my motion from the last sitting also allowed us time to implement these other necessary qualities.
The amendment was crafted following earnest and constructive negotiations on how the government will achieve shared commitments in the parliamentary and government agreement on improving the planning system, giving residents a stronger say on how their neighbourhood is developed, developing public and affordable housing, tree canopy targets, and good social outcomes.
I believe that the process to bring this motion back to the Assembly has done just that. Together, we have worked creatively, pragmatically and calmly to find the answers to creating a dynamic and vibrant town centre in Gungahlin. Similarly, I am committed to working constructively with other representatives of Yerrabi and the Assembly
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