Page 4019 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 December 2021
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Planning—Red Hill—petitions 24-21 and 29-21
By Mr Gentleman, Minister for Planning and Land Management, dated 1 December 2021, in response to petitions lodged by Mrs Jones on 3 and 4 August 2021, respectively, concerning the integrated plan for Red Hill Nature Reserve.
The response read as follows:
Dear Mr Duncan
Thank you for your letters of 3 August 2021 regarding two petitions 24-21 and 29-21 in relation to the Integrated Plan for Red Hill Nature Reserve and Surrounds (the Plan).
I note that petition 24-21 received more than 500 signatories and has been referred to the Standing Committee for Planning, Transport and City Services consistent with Legislative Assembly Standing Order 99A. I await the Standing Committee’s consideration of this petition and will separately provide a whole of ACT Government response to the Committee if required.
The ACT Government has undertaken considerable community consultation and environmental studies in developing the Plan. Stakeholders informed the development of the Plan, and the Government undertook extensive consultation on the Plan in draft form prior to its finalisation.
The Plan appropriately addresses the matters raised in the Resolution of the Legislative assembly of 25 October 2017, including a likelihood of majority community support. In this regard, there was evidence of strong community support received during the engagement processes. The Plan has considerable planning merits consistent with the ACT planning framework for the following reasons:
a. the Plan is consistent with the ACT Planning Strategy 2018 to promote a compact and efficient city, particularly in relation to action 1.1.1 which refers to investigating and planning for infill development in areas close to local centres; noting this site has good access to the existing community and facilities at both Garran and Hughes, including the Garran local centre;
b. the Plan supports the opportunity to provide housing choice for communities to age in place and remain in their local communities;
c. the Plan includes retention of an 18-hole golf course at the Federal Golf Course on the basis that a 9-hole course is less viable longer-term;
d. the Plan also provides for protection of the ecological values, and to potentially increase the area of the Red Hill Nature Reserve consistent with advice of the Conservator of Flora and Fauna;
e. the potential impacts of a possible future retirement village on the ecological values and on existing residential areas can be managed through careful siting and design of a retirement complex. This includes implementation of the 50-metre ecological buffer along the boundary of the golf course; and
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