Page 1923 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 June 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The Government, in accepting the recommendations of the committee, is particularly pleased with the committee's finding of unanimous agreement for retention of the Tuggeranong Homestead and the outbuildings identified as being of cultural and heritage significance. The Government acknowledges the need for stringent controls to ensure a sympathetic approach to protect the aesthetics and heritage values of the homestead and environs and will continue to consult closely with the Heritage Council and interested parties on this important issue and the appropriate boundaries for the proposed residential areas.
The Government will assess future management options for the homestead and outbuildings based on successful and feasible reuse for the site and associated buildings. The Government proposes to seek expressions of interest for the future use of the historical site, including appropriate commercial and/or cultural activities that will assist the conservation and maintenance of the homestead and outbuildings to an appropriate professional conservation standard and in keeping with the international charter for conservation of places of cultural significance known as the Burra charter. Any additional buildings proposed will be required to be in harmony with the heritage character of the homestead and its site. The Government will consider all proposals carefully and notes innovative proposals from MOTH, that is, Minders of Tuggeranong Homestead. Consideration of all such proposals will proceed following the draft variation process that will provide the opportunity for residential development on part of the site and appropriate commercial uses on the heritage precinct. I do emphasise that there is a draft variation process to go through and nothing is decided at this stage.
The ACT Planning Authority has appointed a consultant to undertake a planning and environmental analysis of the site, including the heritage significance of the Tuggeranong site flora and fauna. This analysis will include an examination of the impact that proposed residential development will have on existing flora and fauna and will lead to the preparation of a preliminary assessment report of environmental and planning issues. The report will be released for public consultation with the draft variation to the Territory Plan to allow residential development on the site. This work will provide a basis for consideration of the approach to be taken to providing additional buffer plantings to screen residential development from the homestead precinct.
The Government will consult with the Federal Government on the feasibility of establishing a Charles Bean memorial study centre within the homestead or its precincts. A decision to proceed with such a proposal will depend on Federal Government commitment to fund the study centre and the impact that such a proposal may have on commercial expressions of interest for the site and the implications this may have for the long-term funding of the restoration and maintenance of the total heritage site. The Government will also examine community and public access proposals for the historical precinct in consultation with the Heritage Council and appropriate community bodies. The extent to which the committee's recommendation to redirect community facilities identified for section 790, Calwell, to the homestead site can be implemented will depend on wider planning and social equity issues. The Government will proceed to the draft variation stage, and I assure all interested parties that the ACT Planning Authority will examine closely the responses from the community, particularly those relating to proposals for residential development on the site.
Debate (on motion by Mr Westende) adjourned.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .