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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 3785 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Interestingly, in the minister's comments, he has identified that PALM will now be considering the identification of acceptable approaches to residential redevelopment, including single dwellings, dual occupancy, multi-unit development and the introduction of a site coverage control. These are all issues that were central to Labor's criticism of the draft ACTCode 2 but which the minister said were unnecessary. Now we have a situation where the minister at last, at the 11th hour, at the death knell of this Assembly, has finally conceded that it is important to have more rigorous measures when it comes to dual occupancy development and multi-unit development, and the provision of private open space as well as permeable surfaces on blocks.

Mr Speaker, that is a welcome concession, albeit at the 11th hour, and I certainly take it as an affirmation of the approach the Labor Party has adopted on this issue for the past six months. We have indicated quite clearly, time and again, that this is an issue where the government was not responding and was not putting in place the planning policies needed to ensure that the garden character of many of our established suburbs is maintained.

It will be up to the next Assembly and the next government, whether Labor or Liberal, to decide on the final process for the implementation of a new code for residential development. There is no doubt that a new code is needed, but that process of decision-making will have been greatly assisted by the approach that the minister was required to adopt following the Assembly's resolution in March, and I think, as a result of that process, it will be a much better informed decision that ultimately addresses the range of difficult and protracted planning issues that our city faces.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Planning and Urban Services-Standing Committee

Report No 76-government response

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.58): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following paper:

Planning and Urban Services-Standing Committee-Report No 76-Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No 155 (presented 23 August 2001)-Government response

I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, variation No 155 to the Territory Plan concerns the review of part A of the plan dealing with general principles and policies. This is one in a series of variations anticipated to emerge as a consequence of the review of the Territory Plan. Key issues to emerge during the review of part A were:

the need for the plan to be linked more clearly to current policy directions, notably in terms of sustainability, economic development, competitiveness and enterprise, the greenhouse strategy, regional links, community wellbeing and affordability.

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