Page 647 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 May 1992
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MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, I thank Ms Szuty for her statement, and I will not criticise her for it. I have not seen that article in the Australian. It seems a very good article. It indicates quite clearly the good work that has been undertaken in energy consciousness in government buildings. There is quite a deal of that work going on, under the auspices of Mr Connolly, in ACT government buildings. We are on the same wavelength - or they are on our wavelength, if you like, because it is a very high priority of this Government to be so aware.
Ms Szuty has asked me whether research results can be shared around. I will certainly take up that proposal. The ACT Government is prepared to share its knowledge, and I think across Australia people are more than happy to do that. I am quite happy to make an approach to the Federal Government for such information as they collect.
West Belconnen Residential Development
MR WESTENDE: I refer the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning to a pre-election decision taken by the Chief Minister to halt residential development in areas A1, A2 and D in West Belconnen. Can the Minister explain to the Assembly why this decision was taken? Does the Minister agree that infrastructural support is already in place and this would make the overall costs of development lower, thus opening up some land at the lower end of the price scale for the first home buyer? Will the Government give an undertaking to reassess the development of these investigation areas?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, Mr Westende has correctly portrayed the decision of the Government at that time. If you do not know what areas A1, A2 and D are, I point out that A1 and A2 are to the south of Drake Brockman Drive at Holt and D is much further around, close to Hall on the western side of Belconnen. Members will recall that there was very energetic debate during the election period about the investigation areas in the draft Territory Plan. These areas were part of the investigation areas, though they had also been on the agenda for quite some time before that.
In view of the very considerable community concern in that area about areas A1 and A2 in particular, the Government acted to withdraw them from the draft proposals. I indicated at the same time that in the future they may emerge, as indeed any investigation area on that draft plan may emerge, as part of the public debate. The other areas, B and C, which are more directly to the west of Belconnen, remain under current consideration. I will be expecting a report from the Planning Authority shortly on those.
Mr Westende asked whether there were cost savings to be made using existing infrastructure. That is certainly my belief; but I note that there was a program on ABC radio this morning suggesting otherwise, though not referring specifically to that area. It is the case that the ACT ought to be using existing infrastructure wherever possible, to reduce the cost to the Territory of further development. Gungahlin is costing the ACT plenty as we move out in that area. If we can slow down Gungahlin and develop using existing infrastructure, I am sure that it will be to the advantage of everybody in the ACT.
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