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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3677 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

PALM has already reviewed the three design and siting codes that apply to residential development within residential areas and has prepared a single integrated code known as the ACT code for residential development. As members would be aware, PALM recently concluded a further period of extensive public consultation on the proposed residential code. It has not done it in isolation. It has done it in the wide area. It has taken the community into its confidence. They are currently finalising the consultation report for consideration by the executive.

PALM has also undertaken a review of the commercial policies that apply to group centres, including a review of residential development within the centres. This proposed policy has been through comprehensive public consultation, Mr Speaker, and has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services, which is chaired by a great bloke. The issue of applying the residential design and siting codes to residential development within a commercial area was not raised during the consultation on the draft variation.

Mr Speaker, this motion is about Ms Tucker's desire to tinker, once again, with a planning system to suit her own ends. In other words, she doesn't make a decision. As I have illustrated, she seeks to do this without any appreciation of the consequences. It is very easy to throw stones without understanding where those stones are going to land and the implications of the throwing of the stones. There are many ways that planning policies can be reviewed. This motion in the dying days of the Assembly should be rejected out of hand, and I urge members to do just that.

MR CORBELL (8.19): If we were in any doubt as to why Mr Hird is the chairman of the Planning and Urban Services Committee, now we know, Mr Speaker. That superb dissertation on planning policy and practice, including the apparent rewriting of the metropolitan structure for the city so that the CBD is now located in Latham, was, I thought, something that did him proud.

The revitalisation of local shopping centres is a key planning issue in Canberra. Labor understands that local neighbourhoods value their shops as a meeting place, as a place for convenient local shopping, and as a focus for the community. Canberra's planned hierarchy of shops has provided, and in many cases continues to provide, an easy and equitable way for local communities to access day to day household needs. They often also serve, of course, as a central focus for the suburb.

Labor is committed to ensuring that neighbourhoods continue to have access to convenient local shopping and that that focal point in the community is maintained. This is, of course, especially important for older people as well as younger people, and many who do not have the convenience of a car. The continued provision of local services also encourages a greater sense of community, less reliance on the motor vehicle and more focus on pedestrian, cycling and on-street activity.

Labor's approach in relation to local centres recognises the community's right to have services provided through local shopping, and we will be supporting this motion today because we believe it addresses a number of key issues which we have already raised in relation to our own policy in terms of reforming the planning process for local centres. Let me outline, Mr Speaker, how Labor's policy is consistent with the objectives that Ms Tucker has outlined in her motion this evening.

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