Page 3573 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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The Conservator has advised that from an ecological perspective, Block 1 Section 3 Symonston has values that are consistent with being included in the reserve estate. These include areas of Box Gum Woodland endangered ecological community, mature native trees that provide nesting resources for native fauna and local links providing functional canopy connection between Callum Brae and Mount Mugga Nature Reserves. However, managing the site as a nature reserve would have significant challenges and require more resources than most sections of the existing reserve as there is a quite a large weed load on the site resulting from past disturbance and likely a significant issue with rabbits. These challenges would need to be carefully considered against the potential benefits of inclusion in the reserve estate.
The Government is committed to ensuring sufficient and equitable availability of cremation services and accommodating the faith and cultural needs of the ACT community. We continue to review alternative burial methods and monitor developments in the industry. The proposed crematorium will be a privately owned and operated facility and not a government managed public facility. Private sector decisions about investing in a new business are based on their assessment of the market and need for a service. Sufficient demand for a specific type of permitted commercial proposal will continue to depend on market factors and community needs that the Government will consider appropriately at the time.
Currently, DA202138789 is still under consideration by the authority and a decision will be made based on the merits of the proposal after a thorough assessment is undertaken in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2007. This includes the location, scale and type of development permissible within the Territory Plan zone, suitability of the land for the development proposed, and the probable cumulative impacts (including environmental, traffic, noise, amenity of adjacent developments etc.) of the proposal.
The authority has requested the proponent to apply for new ESOs, as both have now expired. The authority is currently awaiting further information from the proponent.
Development Applications of this kind are a matter for the independent authority. The authority makes its decisions at arm’s length from Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly. In doing so, the authority takes great care in ensuring proper consideration and assessment of all matters required under the Planning and Development Act 2007 and its subordinate legislation.
I trust this information is of assistance.
Roads—speed limits—petition 18-22
By Mr Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services, dated 2 November 2022, in response to a petition lodged by Ms Lee on 2 August 2022, concerning speed limit reductions on Canberra Avenue.
The response read as follows:
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