Page 1537 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 12 August 1992
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cater for the differing requirements of differing socioeconomic groups within our community. We have to consider also that educational and health facilities were provided on the basis of the size and demographic characteristics of the population. Then we have to assume that the cost paid by the community now in these areas is very high.
In my view, Madam Speaker, the most significant issue, however, is related directly to the environment. In spite of specific Acts currently in place, future expansion alone will be at the expense, perhaps irreversibly, of native fauna and flora. In addition, there will be further noise, air and water pollution in those regions. The strategy we are proposing today is based on ecologically sustainable development, supported by the implementation of efficient patterns of urban settlement. We also know that environmental costs associated with this principle offer substantial savings when compared with the greenfield options. Madam Speaker, for a long time the people of Canberra have been told of the problems associated with the realities of metropolitan development. The list of "what if" scenarios is endless; and obstacles, either primary or otherwise, are linked to community attitudes and political reaction.
A few moments ago, Madam Speaker, I said that one option would be for us to do nothing. Of course, in reality, this is no option at all. Urban renewal is the only strategy which will ensure the future economic and environmental viability of the public services and infrastructure in the ACT. There is little question that any immediate cost, either social or economic, will be outweighed by the long-term benefits. I have no doubt that, in physical terms, Canberra has a considerable potential to proceed with the implementation of urban renewal strategies. The fact that the dwelling stock of central Canberra comprises large areas of older housing, private and government, backed up by a sound network of established infrastructure and services, makes this program, even on a considerable scale, feasible. I have no doubt either, Madam Speaker, that everybody in this Assembly will support the issue to the end, in spite of our differences, which I am sure will be differences of degree rather than of substance.
I also know that there are difficulties in the implementation of area-wide projects such as this one, but they will be outweighed by the capacity of the housing market to reach its own level. There is considerable scope, given appropriate redevelopment guidelines, to accommodate part of Canberra's population growth within the existing built-up area. These initiatives, if implemented, will bring a major boost to employment and retail activities in the short and long terms. But it has to be understood, Madam Speaker, that we are not proposing here a radical change to our lifestyle. I emphasise the point: What we are proposing here is not a radical change to our lifestyle. The urban renewal concept aims at providing some direction in a long and much needed process of changing the pattern of a city characterised, as I have said, by low density and car dependency. In other words, the program aims at achieving a more efficient use of urban land.
In a sense we cannot deny that we have always been aware of our reputation of being the largest and finest garden city in the world. We have to admit also that the original settlement pattern was much denser than the current one. As a direct consequence of the latter, we are now facing a number of economic, social and environmental issues which are challenging our prospects of adapting our development to the needs of a modern city. Not long ago we believed that we had a choice between a car oriented city and an urban renewal strategy.
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