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(Quorum formed) . . Page.. 587 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: I have listened with interest to the debate on the report just tabled by the Planning and Environment Committee. It is a significant debate, not just because it is a matter which raises a number of critical issues to do with both the administration of our planning system and our betterment tax system in the Territory but also because it is the first debate on this subject in which I have taken a real interest. Having been given the responsibility of Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning, my attention to this debate was more critical than it might have been on previous occasions when this subject was debated.

The variation which I have just tabled is to enable the development of up to 210 residential dwellings on the former driving range of Yowani Golf Club. (Quorum formed) I do not know; I just shake my head sometimes, Mr Speaker, about those opposite. As members have heard in the debate on this matter already, there was a referral to the previous PDI Committee of the Assembly; the matter then rested with the Planning and Environment Committee. The issues of contamination of the site, the legless lizard population and traffic issues were all raised in that process. Members are aware that the Planning and Environment Committee has produced its report and has addressed some of these issues.

It has recommended that there be a number of preconditions for the approval of this particular lease variation. They include:

that the lease ... stipulate that pedestrian and vehicle access will be open to the public at all times, and that a ‘gated community’ will not be permitted;

significant improvements being made to the Ellenborough Street/Barton Highway intersection to facilitate the movement of traffic into and out of Kaleen, preferably via the Barton Highway (in order to lessen traffic flow on Ellenborough Street);

Mouat Street to be widened to its intersection with Northbourne Avenue in order to improve the present traffic problems of the area;

both of the above works to be funded out of the Government's 1995-1996 Capital Works Program;

the developer to meet the whole cost of traffic lights at Ellenborough Street/Cossington Street (south) ...

The committee noted that the Planning Authority might consider that lights were no longer needed “in light of the above road works”.

The issues raised here are quite significant, and I have to indicate at this stage that the Government cannot respond fully to all of those issues. Certainly, as far as the gating of the community is concerned, I can indicate that the recommendations in that respect will be taken seriously. In fact, there is a stipulation in the lease that the development be an open one and that it be accessible to members of the public at all times.

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