Page 3572 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Investigation Area. If this investigation finds the need for environmental protections, then the planning system allows for these to be put in place.
As more information becomes available in the coming years, I will work to make sure that the biodiversity and conservation values are appropriately considered in future deliberations about the use of land in the Western Edge.
I thank you for referring this petition for my consideration. I trust this information clarifies the ACT Government’s position in relation to the matters in the petition.
Environment—Callum Brae Nature Reserve—petition 16-22
By Mr Gentleman, Minister for Planning and Land Management, dated 14 November 2022, in response to a petition lodged by Ms Clay on 2 August 2022, concerning the protection of Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
The response read as follows:
Dear Mr Duncan
Thank you for your letter of 2 August 2022 providing Petition No. 16-22, lodged by Ms Jo Clay MLA, concerning the Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
The ACT Government notes the concerns raised in the petition in relation to Callum Brae Nature Reserve.
As you may be aware, a development application (DA-202138789) for a privately owned and operated crematorium, was lodged with the independent planning and land authority (the authority) on Block 1 Section 3 Symonston. The development application is currently being assessed in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2007, which includes protection for environment and heritage matters. A crematorium/cemetery is an assessable development in the NUZ1 Broadacre zone under the current Territory Plan.
The authority has informed me that prior to the DA being lodged, environmental impact assessments were conducted to understand the potential effects of the development proposal. This resulted in two Environmental Significance Opinions (ESOs) being given for this development. An ESO was provided by the Conservator of Flora and Fauna on 18 August 2020, subject to conditions and mitigation measures, as the proposal would not have a significant impact on the environmental values.
The ACT Heritage Council also granted an ESO for the proposal on 31 August 2020, subject to conditions, as the development is unlikely to have a significant impact on heritage values.
The proponent of the subject development also referred the proposal to the now Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under application 2019/8595. DCCEEW considered application 2019/8595 in relation to matters of national environmental significance and on 26 May 2020 determined that the development was not a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
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