Page 2697 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
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church, a theological residence and other buildings associated with church uses. But, of course, they go back many, many years.
Whilst the Catholic Church has constructed a residence on the Commonwealth Avenue site, it has not yet undertaken any further development. In connection with the lands lease of the Anglican Church on section 6 in Barton, the Anglican Church was allocated additional land for the development of a theological college under the Leases (Special Purposes) Act. That is in addition to its original lease for the construction of a church and that was intended to provide for a theological college and some other developments on that site.
The Anglican Church has now approached the Government with a preliminary proposal for the comprehensive development of the whole site - both areas of land that it has been granted - which would include a cathedral, a centre for religious education, a public square and gardens, as well as the office space and some special retail outlets. I have had preliminary discussions with the Anglican Church on this matter, but the Government has not given any undertaking on the proposal as it currently stands.
Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Mr Acting Speaker. The standing orders clearly provide for the answers to questions to be brief and concise. This is a ministerial statement.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Mr Berry, the Chief Minister is now in the process of answering the question, so I would ask you to sit down. He has only got a little more. Please continue, Chief Minister.
MR KAINE: Thank you, Mr Acting Speaker. For somebody who uses up every second of the time he is allowed, that is a strange point of order.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Continue with the answer, please.
MR KAINE: As I was saying, while we have had some preliminary discussions with the Anglican Church on this matter, the Government has given no undertaking at all on the proposal as it stands. There are implications in the terms of the lease purpose clauses pertaining to the sites and in the terms of the National Capital Plan and I have agreed that discussions should continue with the proponents, the Interim Territory Planning Authority and the National Capital Planning Authority to consider the implications of the proposal.
There are many issues that will require resolution before the development can proceed beyond the preliminary stage. I recognise the financial difficulties faced by the church in undertaking such a major construction as a cathedral and the attractions that such a development proposal would have in facilitating its requirements. However, I can assure
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