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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (14 October) . . Page.. 3116 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Of equal concern is the inconsistency of PALM and the Government in their description of the proposal in relation to density. In the first public hearing PALM confirmed that the development proposal was of a high density, yet in subsequent public hearings PALM advised:

The proposed development could not be considered high density.

Which one is it? It is of considerable concern that PALM was unable even to properly define the density level of the proposed development, let alone its consistency with principles of the Territory Plan.

Principles 7.1, 7.3, 11.1 and 11.2 are all principles designed to protect the integrity of the open space system in Canberra. The open space system in Canberra, comprising land subject to a variety of zoning and leasehold conditions, has been planned as an integrated landscape by skilled and competent planners. This integrated treatment is on a scale unique to Canberra and is one of our principal assets. The above principles are in the Territory Plan to maintain the integrity of this system. But what does this variation do? It fundamentally undermines those key principles.

The Federal Golf Club represents a fully integrated component of the adjoining formal national capital open space system which comprises the Red Hill reserve. This relationship is recognised through a statement in the Territory Plan which reads:

Note that golf courses are part of the open space system. The Federal Golf Club is a vital element of connecting areas of territory-controlled land linking the Red Hill Nature Reserve with the fingers of parkland and urban open space within the suburbs of Hughes and Garran.

Ordered that Mr Corbell speak without limitation of time.

MR CORBELL: The placement of the Federal Golf Club was a deliberate decision to form a continuity of open space from Red Hill into the adjacent suburbs. The placement of a significantly sized development at the top of the golf course where it adjoins Red Hill Nature Reserve disturbs and breaks up this continuity of open space and it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of similar areas of open space adjoining the formal national capital open space system.

It is a major concern, Mr Speaker, that PALM, the Government and a majority of the Urban Services Committee have failed to recognise and protect this fundamental concept which makes Canberra unique. There is no doubt that the overwhelming majority of submissions and witnesses to the inquiry on this variation saw the formal open space of the Red Hill Nature Reserve and the informal open space of the adjoining

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