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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (4 June) . . Page.. 1892 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

the Assembly from close to 1,000 Canberra residents calling for immediate action regarding the need for a community facility and library in Kippax.

This area has been under much debate for many years, and I hope that this government does not continue the practice of sweeping it under the carpet and hoping it will go away because it is not in an area that is able to attract a lot of interest-again, such as the inner north, inner south or Gungahlin. We will be watching the government quite closely to see how they deal with the issues facing Kippax and West Belconnen. The concerns of the community are quite real and do need close attention.

As I have stated, while there are a few concerns about the variation to the Territory Plan and how it will impact on the Kippax area, I do not believe that these concerns are at the core of what needs to happen at Kippax and I do not think disallowing the variation will address the community concerns. The land is all gazetted as either a or b, and to many in the community these are just semantics. What they are looking for and what they have been asking for for over a decade is a commitment to the community in the West Belconnen area both in terms of community facilities and a library and in terms of having their concerns listened to and an outcome at the end.

This is a great opportunity to again raise these issues under this disallowance motion, but I cannot support the disallowance. It is a matter of pure detail and semantics, and what is needed is a broader approach to fix the issues in West Belconnen.

MRS DUNNE (6.29), in reply: I can do numbers; I know when I am beaten. But I would like to put on the record, first of all, that I acknowledge the block/section mistake-mea culpa-but I won't move an amendment to fix it because it would be a waste of time. It is not the first time, and it won't be the last.

I acknowledge the now expanded undertaking of the minister in relation to Kippax and, like Ms Dundas, I will be watching closely to ensure that those commitments are kept. I would like to see, like Ms Dundas, a revivified commitment from the Department of Urban Services and the Minister for Urban Services to get the library under way.

In relation to Calwell, the minister spoke about the "uncontrolled development" of housing. I would like to put on the record, from the meeting that we had together about the subject, Minister, the strong support from PALM for this so-called "uncontrolled development" and the interesting notion that, when we are confronted with the variation and the disallowance process, somehow one is not allowed to consult with community as to whether they are satisfied with the final outcome. This issue arose when I went to the community and said, "Have a look at it. Are you happy with it?" And this is what came up. So perhaps the lesson for the day is: don't bother to consult over a variation. I regret that this won't pass, but I can face the inevitable.

Question resolved in the negative.

Conduct of members

MR SPEAKER: Members, during question time today, the issue of acknowledgment of the chair was raised in the Assembly. Since, I have been reminded of page 476 of House of Representatives Practice, which I quote in part:

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