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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3676 ..

Mt Stefaniak: Keep going, mate. Don't worry about Wayne.

MR HIRD: New processes now make it mandatory for most developers to prepare a design response report which includes a site analysis plan before a development application can be lodged. This means, Mr Speaker, that design issues are analysed up front and tailored to suite the unique requirements of each site. I understand that Ms Tucker, who I am going away with shortly, does not understand that.

The density of development and its form should reflect its proximity to adjacent developments and uses. Setbacks, heights, types of materials, the scale and massing of the built form-in other words the shadowing for the neighbours-and the landscaping should reflect the local character and establish a cohensive outcome. These elements are significantly different in commercial and residential areas. Ms Tucker has left the chamber, Mr Speaker.

Mr Quinlan: No, she hasn't.

Mr Smyth: No, she hasn't.

Ms Tucker: Hello.

MR SPEAKER: She has, in fact.

MR HIRD: Well, I am looking forward-

MR SPEAKER: Order! May I just draw to the attention of members that the chamber is that area that is enclosed. It is a minor point, but it is still important.

MR HIRD: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Smyth: Come back to your point.

MR HIRD: I will come back to the issue, as my colleague the Minister for Urban Services points out. Residential development in a commercial area provides an alternative housing choice and rejuvenates the commercial area, which gives business an upward swing. Within a commercial area a residential development provides greater choice for people to work and operate a business from the one site and to take advantage of being located in proximity to adjacent commercial uses. The design elements and principles are different due to the nature of adjacent developments. For example, you would have to consider whether the adjoining use is an access to a commercial loading dock or another residence. So we take these things into consideration. Such issues as noise, service vehicles, deliveries and the like are also very different. They are very important and they must be taken into consideration for those areas.

The application of the residential design and siting policies to commercial sites is likely to give people a false expectation about the level of amenity that it is possible to achieve. This in turn is likely to stifle commercial development. It is necessary to recognise that the overriding policy is commercial, not residential.

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