Page 3245 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022
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A small number of residential properties remain affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation in Canberra, and it is possible that additional properties may be identified in the future. Because of this, in this budget the ACT government provided $9.5 million to establish a loose-fill asbestos insulation coordination team. The activities of the coordination team include the administration of the ongoing voluntary buyback program; providing support for the remaining homeowners; progressing the demolition of the remaining ACT government-owned properties; managing the sale of any remediated blocks to the public; and continuing to provide information and support to homeowners should any additional properties be found with loose-fill asbestos insulation.
Finally, the coordination team is finalising the progress of key projects identified in the Mr Fluffy Legacy Project, including the Mr Fluffy Legacy Place of Reflection for which the government has provided $165,000 within the 2022-23 budget. This funding will be used to construct a forest shelter at The Arboretum as a place of reflection. This will be a place for the community to acknowledge the very significant impact by Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos insulation on so many people in the ACT.
Finally, I did want to assure you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that, as the Minister for Homelessness, I am also aware of the crisis around housing affordability. It is something that I think about deeply when we make the decisions that we do, particularly through our work around the National Construction Code 2022. This has been really important work in recent months to improve the sustainability and accessibility of residential dwellings. Doing this work in partnership with other jurisdictions means that cost will be minimised.
The 2022 National Construction Code was made available on 1 October 2022. States and territories will bring the majority of the new code into full effect from 1 May 2023, with a further transition period on 1 October 2023 for more stringent energy efficiency standards and accessibility standards. From October next year, all new homes built in the ACT will be required to have seven-star energy efficiency, have energy efficient major appliances and meet minimum accessibility standards. This is an important first step to ensure that all new homes will be designed for people and our planet and will, in the long term, provide significant cost-of-living relief.
In preparing an updated ACT appendix to the Building Code to give effect to the NCC 2022 in the ACT, local industry is being consulted on any specific aspects of the ACT market that may require consideration, such as substantial alterations, as well as transition arrangements for projects with existing building approvals.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (4.46): The ACT government is committed to creating a more compact, efficient and inclusive city. To realise broader community benefits as our neighbourhoods undergo change, we have funded improvements for public spaces and community facilities, in line with the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan and the Watson section 76 place plan and development concept.
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