Page 3069 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992
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confined their consultation to only the institutions in the neighbourhood - institutions such as TAFE, Canberra University, and the Institute of Sport. That was done on the basis that they would be the only people concerned about this development.
When the committee examined that first proposal it pretty soon became obvious that this was not the only residential development that might take place in that area. There was a much larger area of land bordering on Ginninderra Drive which was earmarked for future residential development. The committee was concerned that observers might see this as development by stealth. Here was an area being developed for residential purposes - a complete change in the land use purpose - and no wide community consultation had been engaged in.
The committee asked the Planning Authority to go away, look at the broader ramifications of residential development in that area, and come back to us with a proposal that would explain to the community the whole of the ramifications, including the much broader area and what that would mean. That entailed community consultation with people living in nearby suburbs, including, for example, Kaleen. That consultation, by and large, was done through an existing body, the Belconnen Community Council, which was seen as being broadly representative of the community interests out there.
As a result of that second round, the variation proposal that came back to the committee was far more comprehensive. It encompassed the whole of the area that might be developed in future. There was a very detailed consideration of all the ramifications of that development, including the necessity for further streets to be built to give access to the ultimate development. There was a proposition that there could be between 500 and 850 residential units in that area in the longer term. That would make a much greater impact on the whole area than the original proposal, which was confined in scope and area.
Anybody who is concerned about the planning processes and who takes this as a case study should surely take heart because the process is such as to allow broader consideration. Something cannot simply slip through the system by default and result in a variation proposal, a planning decision that is not in accord with the wishes of the community or in the best interests of the community. I am very happy that this has been demonstrated to be so.
I know that there is much concern about the ramifications of the new planning legislation that Mr Wood is administering. There remains some concern about the fact that we still do not have a Territory Plan, although I am assured by the Government that that will be before us for consideration soon. I think it is worth noting that in this interim period, when there is no current Territory Plan, when we are still working - - -
Mr Lamont: There is a Territory Plan.
MR KAINE: I was just going to amend that to say that we are still working under arrangements we inherited from the NCDC. Our new Territory Plan, reflecting the wishes of this community today, is not yet in place. Given the reservations about the way the new legislation would work, it is most heartening that the system does work well, in my view, and I think most people in the community, looking at this case study, would agree with that.
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