Page 3495 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 23 November 2021
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moment changing the Territory Plan can be cumbersome and can also duplicate processes across government. The planning review will deliver improved legislation and an improved process. It will also implement a new level of planning, being at the district level. This will be a mixture of maps and Territory Plan instructions and will replace our existing multitude of precinct codes.
Our district strategies are being informed by what the community has told us as well as by government strategies such as the housing strategy, transport strategy and climate change strategy. District strategies will provide Canberrans with a spatial plan for their local communities. It will be a shared vision for what we want to see and value about Canberra and broken down at the district level. I am expecting to release draft district strategies in the middle of next year for future discussion and consultation.
MS ORR: Minister, how is the ACT government delivering sustainability through the planning system?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Orr for her long-term interest in planning, particularly in the Yerrabi electorate. The planning system has a critical role to play in ensuring we maintain a sustainable city. The government’s focus on building up rather than out will continue to protect the sensitive landscape that surrounds our city, as well. One of the key features of the government’s plans for density is that we want to limit our density to town centres, group centres and along major transport corridors. Of course, the Canberra Liberals want to build a city of unchecked urban sprawl accompanied by rampant dual occupancies. We would see houses in every backyard, congestion in our suburban streets and a loss of biodiversity that we will never get back.
The government is introducing new requirements for more trees and more green spaces for private blocks in our residential zones. More living infrastructure means fewer hard surfaces and reduced heat island effect as well. The government is focusing on delivering a range of housing choices for Canberrans. By limiting our density to these pockets we can make sure that our low-rise suburbs maintain their suburban character while also providing choices for people who want lower maintenance housing closer to the action.
National Multicultural Festival—COVID-19
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, late last week you announced the cancellation of Canberra’s 2022 Multicultural Festival. Reasons cited for the cancellation were that the departmental staff who run the festival were deployed on other activities supporting the multicultural community during the COVID lockdown, thus losing crucial organising time. Minister, Events ACT runs many public events in Canberra. Why were they not brought in to assist to get the event off the ground for 2022?
MS CHEYNE: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question. I appreciate her interest in the Multicultural Festival and how much it means to all of us in this place and the broader community. The ACT National Multicultural Festival is proudly community led and
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