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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2665 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

The route has been chosen and the draft variation formalises it. The draft variation is for a route different to that put forward by the Maunsell report which was initially favoured by the government. The route now utilises some of the current car park of Bruce Stadium in order to minimise the effect on the local terrain. There is no spur. If you read the report, you will see that that was a compromise by the government. The rapid transit corridor will no longer go through the centre of O'Connor Ridge to Belconnen Way. That is another compromise. As the variation no longer incorporates the spur, it is absolutely inaccurate to claim that the GDE will cut through the ridge. It will not. Be honest about it. Draft variation 138 represents a significant compromise by the government in an effort to meet the concerns expressed during the committee's inquiry.

Mr Speaker, there is no need to delay this matter any further. The majority of the committee has decided to endorse draft variation 138. To that end, I gave a commitment to the residents of Gungahlin that I would do everything to make certain that a decision was made in this parliament during this term. So let us get on with the job.

Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell ) adjourned to a later hour.

Report No 78

MR HIRD (12.28): Mr Speaker, I present the following report:

Planning and Urban Services-Standing Committee-Report No 78-The Draft Village of Hall Master Plan, dated 7 August 2001, together with a copy of the extracts of the minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

Mr Speaker, this is a unanimous report. It expresses concern about the length of time being taken to prepare a master plan for the village of Hall. We sympathise with the wishes of the people of Hall for the matter to be finalised within the life of the current parliament. We have taken this view in light of the fact that the development applications for the village are being processed, while at the same time the master plan is not proceeding at an acceptable rate.

In 2000 this committee examined proposals to establish a rural/residential type of land use. In presenting our report on rural residential we recommended that the Hall master plan be finalised before a decision is made about the nature of residential development of any type in Kinlyside.

We also recommended that the master plan incorporate a more substantial buffer zone between the village and further residential development, and that the Territory Plan be amended to formally establish and protect the buffer zone between Gungahlin and the village itself.

We heard evidence that in March 1998 PALM indicated to the Hall and District Progress Association that the master plan might be completed within six months. It is now 31/2 years later and the process is still not completed. The committee accepts that it is

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