Page 4535 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 14 December 1993
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The ACT Government's position is not expressed solely by these Ministers. In June 1992 the Chief Minister wrote to the Prime Minister putting forward what she termed the ACT Government's "short and long term visions" for the peninsula. While Ms Follett's letter quite strongly set out the fact that she expected the ACT Government to retain control over the majority of the peninsula, her vision is one which does not accord with the findings of the community groups mentioned earlier. Ms Follett saw the site, at that time, in the long term, as having potential as an urban village, and I quote:
Based on a mix of medium and high density housing with ancillary commercial and tourist facilities.
Ms Follett also made reference to health facilities, and I quote again:
The Government also believes that the opportunity should also remain for the provision on the Peninsula of public health facilities, including a hospice, rehabilitation and aged care services, a relocated Queen Elizabeth II Hospital for Mothers and Babies and nursing home facilities.
What I am looking for now is for the ACT Government to better explain to the community what its short- and long-term visions for Acton Peninsula are, and what level of building space it feels would cater for the provision of the promised health and community facilities. The Government also has not indicated to date whether it sees the present buildings or new buildings as fulfilling these promises. I am not aware of the Chief Minister making public the Prime Minister's response to her letter, but I would be interested in hearing of his comments on the issue.
The final player of those players interested in the future of Acton Peninsula is the Australian National University. The university has taken to the task with vigour, producing a plan for the development of a high-technology research park adjacent to the peninsula. The plan is decidedly long term, looking at the needs of the Australian National University and the university community over the next 50 years, with a fairly relaxed timetable for achieving the culmination of these plans. I understand that the plan has been referred to the university community for further consultation.
The various plans, forums, discussion papers and other vehicles for expressing the future of Acton Peninsula have created additional uncertainty. The community, I believe, wants to know who has the final say on the future use of the land, and what are the plans for what the community believes is its peninsula. Where is the way through this maze? Firstly, there must be open and honest admission to the community of the likely adoption of the various proposals. Proponents need to come forward and declare their interests and the ACT Government needs, I believe, to take on board the community's view that housing does not belong on the site. Secondly, there needs to be clarification of the roles of the two planning bodies involved - the National Capital Planning Authority and the ACT Planning Authority - and their relationship with each other. Acton Peninsula has profile, is a glorious location, and has become vacant due to the closure of Royal Canberra Hospital. It has become available in the eyes of some. In the eyes of the community it has become available only for other community uses.
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