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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (12 October) . . Page.. 2987 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I have made a series of recommendations which are contrary to the recommendations in the majority report. The first of these is that this variation should not be endorsed, and I have outlined in detail in my dissenting report the reasons for making that recommendation. I have also recommended that the area of public land outlined in draft variation No. 94 which is proposed to be expanded by 9.2 hectares to incorporate land currently included in the restricted recreation land use policy be incorporated instead into Red Hill nature reserve because of its environmental values. It is land which the club itself acknowledges is of environmental significance and which PALM and Environment ACT recognise is of environmental significance, but propose instead simply to put in place a land management agreement. This recommendation is not dissimilar to recommendation 2 of the majority report, which recommends that such an option be explored.

Mr Speaker, I have also made the recommendation that the area of 4.7 hectares proposed for the 59 dwellings not be changed to residential and instead remain for the moment as restricted access recreation land use.

Finally, in my dissenting report I have outlined that the Government should be exploring further options for incorporating the 4.7 hectares of the north-eastern part of section 56 into the Red Hill nature reserve under clause 6(c) of the Federal Golf Club's lease so as to protect the integrity of the formal and informal open space network in the area.

It was highlighted by the committee that the Government does have the option under the golf club's lease to withdraw the land proposed for housing to make it part of the open space network which the golf club effectively makes up. To build houses on that land would fundamentally disrupt the integrity of that network. I hope that the Government will take account of these recommendations and decide not to proceed with this draft variation.

MR HIRD: I wish to exercise my rights under standing order 47, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MR HIRD: I have just been informed by the Clerk that I may have inadvertently misled the house inasmuch as Mr Corbell indicated that I had said in my address to the chamber that there were to be 150 dwellings under a proposal that came before the previous parliament. In fact, that is not so. What happened was that the proposal went before a formal meeting of the members of the club and it was thrown out; so it did not go anywhere. If I did cause any undue stress to members, I do apologise, but it was not intentional. I know that my colleagues opposite would understand, particularly Mr Wood.

Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth ) adjourned.

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