Page 2810 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 September 1994
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In passing the laws that introduced the new Territory Plan the Government specifically encouraged infill.
Why did the Government adopt this policy? It did so in order to:
. Make better use of the infrastructure (roads, water supply, power, sewerage, etc).
. Slow down urban sprawl. The Sustainable Canberra Report demonstrated that at one time Canberra had the unique distinction of being the only city of 32 examined whose inner area was less dense that its outer area.
. Make better use of greenfields sites while making least impact on the natural environment.
. Respond to demand from consumers.
He went on to say:
Urban planning stirs the passions. It affects people where they live.
All these things are true. Just as Mr King and others argue along those lines, it is reasonable to say that very strong and eloquent arguments have been put by Professor Pat Troy from the urban research unit at the Australian National University. Professor Troy does not have a specific axe to grind. Obviously, Larry King of the Housing Industry Association does want to see more and more housing built. That is part of his role. One can see why he would wish to argue that way. The supposed benefits of urban consolidation have been questioned. What we really need is somebody who will take on those questions, consider them and determine whether or not there is any significance in them and what it is about the urban consolidation policies that is causing so much angst in Canberra. There is not one member of this Assembly who could argue that there is not a great deal of angst caused by the policies, about which a leading academic, who is now overseas speaking on this very issue, has raised real doubts and has qualified each of those doubts.
How will the problem be resolved? The problem will be resolved with great difficulty. Already there have been questions raised about how independent the inquiry is - first over its secretary and now over the inquirer. Minister, it may well be possible now to have somebody like Professor Neutze assist Mr Lansdown in his inquiry. I offer that as a genuine suggestion, to give you the opportunity to show that this inquiry will be run as independently as possible. What we all seek is to get a positive outcome for Canberra, in terms of the people of Canberra and in terms of changes that need to be made to the Territory Plan and to planning on this issue. The way the Minister is going about it appeared, for a while, to be appropriate; but it does not appear to be delivering what it ought to deliver. If it remains "botched", it will leave this Minister, his Government and Canberra in a pickle.
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