Page 499 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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Therefore, the leasehold system serves two interests: from a local point of view it provides for orderly development in a predictable fashion and prevents speculation; and from a national point of view it identifies the fact that land in Canberra is a national asset to be safeguarded and used for the benefit of the nation and the capital.
Land use planning is assisted by the leasehold system, as is estate management. We as a community are able to maximise the wealth deriving from that estate. However, the key to management of the leasehold system is the coordination between land planning and lease administration. Lease purpose clauses are a very important instrument in controlling land development.
After a relatively short period in office, the Alliance Government has commenced the process of implementing measures to meet the concerns that have been expressed by the community about the operation of the leasehold system. They are concerns that go back to an article in the Canberra Times by a respected writer on this subject, Mr Jack Waterford, who refers to this. It is dated 5 December 1988, and he refers to the problems associated with the leasehold system and its management and administration. At the time Mr Waterford suggested that perhaps we should have an inquiry as part of an investigation into local revenue raising possibilities and leasehold maladministration up to the point of self-government. I am referring, Mr Speaker, to the second of two articles by Mr Waterford in the Canberra Times. I suggest that all of us in the Assembly and those who administer it agree that changes are required.
One of the conclusions in the submission of the ACT Administration's Office of Industry and Development, of June 1988, to the Langmore inquiry, at page 25, paragraph 8.1, stated:
The Administration considers that review of the ACT leasing system is an important step in considering whether the ACT community is being as well served as it might by the system.
At paragraph 8.2 it states:
A number of developments are in train that have the potential to significantly upgrade the system; these include:
- review of the public consultation process,
- review of the planning appeals process,
- review of the mechanism for changing lease purpose clauses, and
- review of the appropriate level of betterment charges.
All these matters will be taken up in the Government's legislation that will be brought down soon.
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