Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 5 Hansard (3 May) . . Page.. 1485 ..

Direction relating to Red Hill housing precinct

Paper and statement by minister

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts and Minister for Police and Emergency Services): For the information of members, I present the following paper:

I ask for leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, on 14 February 2001 the Assembly passed the following motion:

Mr Speaker, the scale and form of a development are key factors in determining whether the heritage values are affected. Any proposal that seeks to increase the level of development on a block has the potential to adversely affect heritage values. Substantial or unsympathetic additions to a dwelling may have a greater impact than the provision of a dual occupancy. I consider that the conservation of a precinct's intrinsic features is best achieved through the introduction of a series of interrelated development controls that apply to all development.

PALM's review of the Red Hill housing precinct as carried out in October 2000 found that dual occupancy development was not inconsistent with the conservation of the precinct's values. The ACT Heritage Council concurred with the findings of the review. I consider that the controls introduced by variation 114, along with the recommended guidelines on setbacks included in the review, will provide the opportunity to appropriately conserve the heritage values of the Red Hill precinct while maintaining the opportunity for limited dual occupancy development. Nevertheless, I acknowledge the Assembly's recommendation and intend to respond positively to it by tabling an instrument directing PALM to implement policies which provide for a development intensity of not more than one dwelling on any block in the precinct.

The Territory Plan currently allows for two dwellings per block within the precinct. To implement this motion, another draft variation to the Heritage Places Register in the Territory Plan is required. Before submitting such a draft variation to the executive for tabling in the Legislative Assembly, the authority is required to carry out the notification and consultation processes outlined in the act. That means that a new draft variation will need to be prepared and released for public comment and then referred to the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services before it is tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .