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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (16 February) . . Page.. 182 ..
MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, I am delighted to learn that the Government has released a large number of residential blocks, which will mean jobs. My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. It follows Mr Wood's comments earlier in question time. Is the Minister aware of the comments by our colleague Mr Wood supporting further residential development in Tuggeranong?
MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am sure it is of interest to all members, particularly the members for Brindabella. The Government has announced that two sections of land designated under the Territory Plan for residential use will be released shortly. The two sections of land in South Tuggeranong known as Conder 9 and Banks 3 will be released for housing development, and some land in Calwell has also been proposed for development. About 500 blocks in all are expected to be auctioned in June.
I am aware of comments made by Mr Wood, as reported by the Valley View this morning. I hope that Mr Wood gets support from his colleagues in caucus on this matter, because I am sure that Mr Wood understands the serious impact that an end to residential development would have on the future of Tuggeranong. I have no doubt that Mr Wood is also aware of the broader environmental and economic consequences that such a decision would have on Tuggeranong. They would go well beyond the boundaries of Tuggeranong.
For those members who, unlike Mr Wood, are more interested in cheap populist moves than in securing the future of Tuggeranong, let us reflect on what it would mean to Canberra if we ceased all development in Tuggeranong. As I have said before, everybody's rates would go up. As I said more than a year ago, when Tuggeranong was planned, infrastructure was built based on a certain population projection, and that projection has not yet been reached. For us to underutilise those assets would mean that somebody would have to pay for it. Let us quote Mr Wood on the matter, because I think Mr Wood got it quite right in the Valley View this morning. Mr Wood said:
Since the infrastructure is linked to these developments which are part of the Territory Plan, it is appropriate that they be developed.
It makes good economic sense because it's cheaper than opening up whole new areas somewhere else. There are just a few of these pockets around the place and they should all be developed. As for facilities, well you've got shops, schools, playgrounds ... while there's some facilities that may still need to come, for the most part the facilities are there.
What happens if Tuggeranong does not grow as it was designed to do? What happens if we do not meet that population? The infrastructure will be underutilised, schools may not be viable and local shopping centres may no longer be viable either. In other words, ceasing residential development in Tuggeranong will guarantee future school closures and the failure of retail centres.
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