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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 11 Hansard (28 November) . . Page.. 3318 ..

This report is on an inquiry into another contentious issue referred to the committee, namely, whether rural residential development should be established as a land use category in the territory. The inquiry was undertaken at the direction of the territory's parliament and took over one year to complete. The committee received nine submissions and held one public hearing.

The committee appreciated the cooperation it received from the Minister for Urban Services and his departmental officers. Members especially appreciated the minister's action in providing copies of the submissions to the consultant who prepared the discussion paper on rural residential development in 1998. These submissions were helpful to our understanding of all of the issues before us. The minister asked the committee to respect the confidentiality of some of these submissions and the committee has done so in its report.

The committee's report shows that members have strong views on rural residential development within the territory. One member, my colleague Mr Corbell, believes that rural residential development is completely unsuited to this territory. Another member, Mr Rugendyke, is wary of the idea and wants further information before he reaches a definite conclusion.

My own view is that rural residential development of the type the government is proposing makes sense for this territory. Why? It is because there is room for it and there is a demand for it, it can be done to a very high standard within the territory, it widens the housing choice available to the residents of this territory, it will not financially disadvantage the territory, and we have some areas of the ACT-not many; Kinlyside and North Gungahlin are just two-where rural residential development would be particularly suitable.

With such a diverse range of views, it might be considered a surprise that the committee has produced two unanimous recommendations. The first concerns Hall Village. All members want to see Hall Village protected from the urban residential development that is proposed for Kinlyside. One key protective measure is the establishment of a buffer zone around the village so that Hall can retain its existing rural feeling and distinctive appearance. The size and nature of the buffer zone are part and parcel of the master plan now being drawn up for Hall Village. All of us agree that the master plan must be completed before any urban development takes place in Kinlyside.

The second unanimous recommendation of the Planning and Urban Services Committee is that a draft variation to the Territory Plan should be prepared for a new land use classification of rural residential development. I think that would help advance the whole issue because it would do two things, Mr Deputy Speaker: firstly, it would provide an opportunity for extensive public consultation on the whole idea. Secondly, it would enable the government to closely examine the many ideas for the exact nature and type of rural residential development that came out of this committee's inquiry. I see both of these developments as pluses for the ACT community.

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