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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (20 April) . . Page.. 1018 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

encourage good design outcomes. I think the committee has accepted that view. A strict application of codes has actually resulted, on some occasions, in very poor outcomes, even though they have been precise applications of particular building codes.

Ms Tucker raised the issue of the section master plan in relation to section 59 of Braddon. Mr Speaker, there is there a proposal which is outside the provisions of the urban housing code. Instead of a setback of six metres for one building, there was a setback of 41/2 metres. The reason for it, we were informed, was that if you actually applied a setback of six metres, as would be required under the urban housing code, it would result in the construction of a building which did not have adequate solar access, and that a change to the urban housing code in that regard actually provided for a building with decent solar access, which is an entirely appropriate measure. Obviously, these issues are going to be subjective. That is why we need good resourcing in PALM and a good level of highly qualified personnel in PALM to make the right assessment in the interests of the residents affected, proponents and the city overall. I thank the Assembly for its indulgence.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services): Mr Speaker, for the information of members I present, pursuant to section 29 of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, variation No. 109 to the Territory Plan, relating to area specific policies B11 and B12, North Canberra, and appendix III.3 urban housing code. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, this variation is presented with the background papers, a copy of the summaries and reports, and a copy of any directions or report required. I ask for leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, draft variation No. 109 proposed dividing the existing B1 areas in North Canberra, excluding those immediately adjacent to Northbourne Avenue and Ainslie Avenue, into two distinct area-specific policies identified as the B11 urban housing area and the B12 urban housing area. The draft variation also introduces a new design code, to be known as the urban housing code, and a requirement for the preparation of section master plans. The B11 urban housing area will allow the maximum height of buildings to be 12 metres and no more than three storeys, and there will be a maximum plot ratio of 0.8. In the B12 urban housing area, the maximum height of buildings shall be 8.5 metres and no more than two storeys, with the maximum plot ratio being 0.65.

By way of background, the B1 policies in the Territory Plan form part of a series of higher density residential policies which aim to encourage housing diversity, contain urban expansion, conserve energy and resources and provide opportunities for increased dwelling density to reduce population losses in established areas. The B1 policy was first

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