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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (22 May) . . Page.. 1586 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Mr Humphries also went on to say that we simply cannot support this motion because there would be a thousand or so jobs attached to the expansion of the retail centres at Tuggeranong, Woden and probably Belconnen; but certainly at the first two. Let us take that to its logical conclusion. Mr Humphries, if what we want to do is get jobs and we are not concerned about these issues, why do we not then take the approach that they have taken in France? I imagine that you, in particular, because you like to visit France, have been to one of the French hypermarches. I am sure that Mr Cornwell and others have, too. They are a very interesting shopping centre - a single shop, by and large, where you can buy pretty well everything except cars. You can buy almost anything else.

Mr De Domenico: Have you been there, too, Mr Moore?

MR MOORE: Indeed, I have been there. That is why I am describing it. I must say that it is 10 years or more since I have been in one of these, but I have been there. They are usually located just outside the town, and they drag people away from the other shopping centres. That is the free market. If we are going to take your logic, then let us make some area available for a hypermarche and call tenders. Why do we not do it on the other side of the Governor-General's house, in the horse paddocks beyond Weston Creek? It would be a great boost to Weston Creek, too. What you can do is say, "Let us call for tenders for such a hypermarche". At the same time, you could watch how people who are now advocating expansion of the retail centres squeal. That is exactly what they will do, because it will affect their business. We do have the potential to extend this. Such a project would bring thousands and thousands of jobs.

It may well be that this is such an attractive proposal that the Government will adopt it or will put it into a plan for retail space in Canberra. If it is developed as part of a strategic plan where we know what is going to happen to the hierarchy of stores and this adds yet another dimension to the hierarchy, then it may well be a positive thing. But let us understand what it is going to do and let us plan it. Let us not do the reverse, as they have done at the Gold Coast. We know that the Gold Coast, by and large, has been fairly much developed as a free market. The whole of the Gold Coast development has been initiated by developers, with minimal input from planners. Apart from the climate - and, even on climate, I must say that I prefer here - which of the cities is preferable to live in? Anybody who has lived in Canberra knows that this is a much more delightful city.

Ms McRae: Not if you have to shop at your local shop.

MR MOORE: Ms McRae interjects, "Not if you have to shop at your local shop". If you have to shop at your local shop at the moment, yes; that is okay, unless you happen to be in one of those suburban areas where there has been this kind of impact. The local shopping areas, of course, are not designed to meet your full shopping needs, and that is why we have the hierarchy to meet different needs. That is how it is generally viewed in Canberra.

What we have is a situation of balance. We are talking about balance. We can expect, and should expect, the Government to set out what that balance should be. That is a role of planners, and it is a challenge for the Minister for Planning. That is why the very sensible amendment that I have proposed should make this motion basically irresistible.

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