Page 748 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994

(6) The present lease requires Westfield to provide a child-care facility, which is

already there. This facility will continue to operate when the cinema complex,

itself a focal point for the Belconnen community, is constructed.

(7) The existing leases held by Westfield provide for the cinema uses. Westfield has

applied for some additional land to enable the proposed cinema complex to be

linked to the Mall. Negotiations are close to finality with the intention of

commencing work on the complex towards the middle of this year.

(8) I am unaware what community consultation was undertaken by Westfield however,

the proposal to establish cinemas in Belconnen Mall has been widely canvassed in

the local media. The establishment of the cinemas is provided for in the Territory

Plan which itself was subject to exhaustive community consultation.

(9) The cinema complex will not require infrastructure expenditure by the Government.

It will be integrated into the existing complex in accordance with design and siting

requirements of the ACT Planning Authority. The proposed manner of

construction of the cinema complex and traffic studies indicate that the existing

infrastructure is both adequate and appropriate.

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