Page 158 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 1990
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I am happy to table it if you like.
Ms Follett: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I do not like to labour the point, but the topic of the matter of public importance is the need of the Assembly to respond to the draft National Capital Plan, not the subject of proposed ACT legislation.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms Follett. Please stick close to the point, Mr Jensen.
MR JENSEN: What I was really doing, I suggest, Mr Speaker, as I understand is normal in debates, is to offer, if you like, comments on the statements made by the other party. But before I go on, I want to make just one other comment with regard to Mr Moore's statements about his concern for the green space within the ACT. I refer him - I know he also has a copy of it - to our policy on urban planning and development in the environment policy. It is part 5 and it is quite clearly stated there, firstly, that the leasehold system will be retained in accordance with Alliance Government planning policy. There we go once again. It states that implementing our urban consolidation policy development and redevelopment will not encroach upon green belts or urban parklands, and heritage values of the built environment will be protected. It is quite clear, so I do not think Mr Moore has to worry too much about that.
This matter of public importance follows the publication by the National Capital Planning Authority of the draft version of volumes 1 and 2 of the National Capital Plan. The National Capital Planning Authority is required under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act of 1988 to publish these drafts for public comment. This is what it has done.
Canberra is one of the best planned cities in the world. It provides the people of Australia with a striking and efficient national capital and local residents with a most pleasant residential and working environment. We look forward to working with the Federal Government and the National Capital Planning Authority to ensure that the outstanding characteristics of our unique city are preserved and enhanced. I have already stated that; it is in our policy. We accept the need for planning controls which contribute to the continued development of Canberra as an attractive and viable national capital and recognise the vital part that the National Capital Plan plays in this.
However, at this point let me comment, Mr Speaker, on concerns that I expressed some two or three years ago to a previous Labor Minister, who at the time was advised by Mr Whalan, about the proposal for a two-planning authority system in the ACT. Mr Moore, I am sure, will recall those discussions because he was involved in those seminars. Mr Langmore, the member for Fraser, presented to the Prime
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