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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 2803 ..

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present approvals of variations Nos 63 and 105 to the Territory Plan, these being for home businesses and home occupations and for Symonston section 103, block 6, Mugga Mugga, respectively, pursuant to section 29 of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, these variations are tabled with the background papers, a copy of the summaries and reports, and a copy of any direction or report required. I ask for leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, variation No. 63 to the Territory Plan relates to policies for home businesses and home occupations. The purpose of the variation was to amend some of the current provisions relating to the control and definition of home businesses and home occupation use under the Territory Plan, better define the meaning and scope of home occupation use, strengthen controls and correct existing inconsistencies. The changes are required to ensure that unintended anomalies between home occupation and home business activities are corrected; the impact of any home occupation/home business is kept aligned with normal residential use and activity levels; the use does not disrupt surrounding residents or adversely impact on the environment; provision is made for small business enterprises to develop; people choosing to work from home are not precluded from operating low-level retail activities; the consistent and effective operation of the original policy intentions can be implemented; and legislative references are corrected.

This variation was revised in response to issues raised during consultation. The Standing Committee on Urban Services considered the draft variation and, in Report No. 13 of October 1998, endorsed the draft variation. Mr Speaker, I would thank the committee for their work. The Urban Services Committee gets through an extraordinary number of reports, and I think they are to be congratulated. The committee also recommended that, where policies refer to the need to comply with "any relevant Territory legislation", mention should also be made of "any relevant code of practice". This was agreed by officials at the committee hearing, and the changes have been made in the document. Mr Speaker, I would also like to highlight a comment in the committee's report:

On 30 October 1998 the committee was briefed on the draft Variation by government officials from PALM. The committee expresses its appreciation to these officials, and in particular Ms Graham, for the high standard of this briefing.

I think Mr Hargreaves made reference to this when the report was tabled. This confirms my view that PALM officials operate to high standards, and I commend the officials, in particular Ms Graham, for their work.

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