Page 3798 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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draft urban consolidation proposals were dropped, following considerable community pressure, prior to self-government. I would suggest that the new Territory Plan, which is about to hit the streets, will bring on this debate once more.
Mr Wood: Draft Territory Plan.
MR JENSEN: I meant to say "draft", Mr Wood. I note the distinction and I can understand why you want to make it. I acknowledge that it is a draft plan, and it is certainly up to the community to make its views known, not only on specific components within that plan but also on the various principles and guidelines which I understand will be identified within that plan. That, I guess, is going to be the critical issue in relation to urban consolidation and the need for the development of what people see as a more sustainable Canberra, to enable us to better utilise our existing infrastructure and facilities, without having to go down the expensive path of "green field" developments. Such developments are expensive in more ways than one - not just in terms of the environment but also in terms of the dollars and cents that are required for that infrastructure, a cost that will eventually be required to be passed on to people in the future.
In relation to dual occupancy policies, the argument has been raised that single titles would affect the maintenance of the character of residential streets. In fact, that is one of the comments raised in "Planning Policies for Dual Occupancy of Detached House Blocks", dated February 1986. It is a National Capital Development Commission plan that, on 31 January 1989, effectively became part of the Territory Plan, and I expect that some of this will be included in the new draft documents that we will be seeing soon.
Page 2 of that document specifically indicated that:
... a dual occupancy development remains on the original block and is not separately titled.
This is because:
- single titles will assist in the maintenance of the character of residential leases;
- single titles will encourage the provision of rental accommodation;
- subdivision in many cases would produce small awkward blocks and thereby difficulties with services and utilities;
- subdivision would encourage the different treatment of the two dwellings in design terms;
- later redevelopment of the area may require land assembly and would be impeded by premature block fragmentation.
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