Page 4183 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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So, to suggest that other aspects were not considered by the planning authority in its contribution to this debate is just a bit off the mark.
Before I move on to some general points in relation to the planning issues, I will refer to some of the documents that Mr Moore chooses to use on odd occasions. I am referring to the Gungahlin policy and implementation plan, dated January 1989. However, I think it is appropriate to refer to the environmental impact statement, which is a draft for discussion, dated April 1988. Let me go on to make some comments in relation to what is included in this document. On page 68 it says:
The provision of the school is nevertheless related to the ability of the neighbourhood to provide adequate long term enrolments to ensure its long term viability. As a neighbourhood moves through its life cycle, school enrolments can drop to one-third of their peak with consequential implications for educational costs, so an element of compromise is implicit in the choice of school and hence neighbourhood size. Neighbourhoods of 1600-1800 blocks provide adequate long term enrolments as well as peak enrolments which are high but acceptable.
The problem is that in relation to Gungahlin they are the suggestions that are being applied. However, in the two areas that have been most involved in the proposals for school closures, different processes and procedures were applying. If one looks at those parts of Belconnen and Weston Creek that have this problem, it is very interesting to consider them because you will note, Mr Deputy Speaker, that these suburbs were opened at about the same time. As someone once said to me, when I was discussing this issue, "I can stand on my roof and see five primary schools". That was in Weston Creek.
Mr Berry: If you climbed up Black Mountain Tower you could probably see more.
MR JENSEN: That relates to the Weston Creek area, Mr Berry. Clearly, the sorts of criteria that are suggested here have been overtaken by events. The document then goes on to talk about other aspects of school population. An interesting comment relates to traffic safety. At page 68, continuing on to page 69, it is stated:
For example, as neighbourhood size decreases, the long term viability of the school also declines but traffic safety within the neighbourhood improves as the volumes and speeds on distributor roads are reduced. This element of compromise is a major part of the planning process.
That relates to the whole planning process. To a certain degree, the issue of planning is a matter of compromise.
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