Page 4865 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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Government Flats, Northbourne Avenue
MR STEVENSON: I direct a question to Mr Connolly on behalf of the residents of the government run flats along Northbourne Avenue. These include Lyneham Flats, Owen Court, Condamine Court, Northbourne Flats and also the flats closer to Civic. Some residents have been concerned about rumours of possible redevelopment along Northbourne Avenue. Is the Minister aware of any negotiations, either official or unofficial, which could possibly result in any of the flats I have named being affected by development proposals?
MR CONNOLLY: If Mr Stevenson had read the Canberra Times of a week or so ago, he would have noted the statements that the Chief Minister had made in relation to the ACT's initiative under the better cities program, which is focusing in the first instance on redeveloping a block of flats owned by the Housing Trust near the tourist information centre at Dickson - the Dickson flats.
Indeed, what the ACT Government is intending to do as part of the better cities program - an initiative of the Federal Labor Government, which is getting on with the job rather than merely talking about it, which is all that people opposite can do - is not to flog off publicly owned flats to private sector mates but, rather, to redevelop as a public housing precinct very run down, poor quality, late 1950s and early 1960s public flats which are really most unpleasant. They leave a lot to be desired, aesthetically. They have provided accommodation for many years, but their time has now come.
The Housing Trust is talking with the tenants of the affected flats and the proposal, which I think was referred to in that article, is that - - -
Mr Humphries: What does Ellnor think about all of this? Have you asked Ellnor?
MR CONNOLLY: Mrs Grassby is very enthusiastic about upgrading public housing. When Mrs Grassby was the Minister responsible for public housing, she did a lot to improve the quality of the public housing stock in this Territory. That commitment is being carried through by this Government. This is not a case of flogging off public housing assets to private sector developers. Rather, it is a case of upgrading those particular blocks of flats.
The intention, which I think was referred to in that article, is that the existing tenants of the first block will be found alternative and appropriate accommodation in the area - in the area where they have lived for many
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