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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2235 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

A decision was taken to review the area of land because of concerns raised about the impact of the development on the woodland area. The opportunity was also taken to look at the possible implementation of innovative urban stormwater initiatives in the estate. The main outcome of these studies was the former government's decision to reduce the total area set aside for residential development by a further nine hectares to approximately 27 hectares, of which two hectares was further set aside for urban open space. I have to stress that the urban open space elements were a result of the campaign the Labor Party ran in opposition that ensured that those areas were also set aside.

Mr Speaker, using the revised development control plan as the basis for the development of the estate, a preliminary assessment was prepared in accordance with the land act. The PA was released for public comment in August 2001 and evaluated by the delegate for the environment minister, who determined that no further environmental assessment was required.

The concerns associated with the development of this site have been taken into account. The DCP, the development control plan, represents a positive planning response to guide residential development, address the ecological values of the area and protect the adjoining nature reserve. You have got to remember that 70 per cent of the woodland area in east O'Malley is now to be incorporated into Canberra Nature Park. That is a significant area.

Mr Speaker, the development control plan outlines a range of measures. First of all, it will ensure that subdivision is of a high quality and all high-quality and high-plus-quality significant trees are to be retained; and all but two medium-quality significant trees are to be retained. There will be edge streets upon the boundary of the estate. This will provide for a clear buffer zone and management boundary and will avoid the problem we have experienced in other areas of interface between residential areas and Canberra Nature Park where back fences abut onto the reserve and the capacity for escape of introduced species of plants into the nature reserve area is much higher. So the introduction of the buffer streets will substantially eliminate those problems.

All residences will have a 5,000 litre rain water tank. There will be a demonstration street to promote the concepts of sustainable urban stormwater design. So the stormwater issues that Ms Tucker and Ms Dundas referred to are actually being substantially addressed through the subdivision design. This is not a standard subdivision in that regard. It is a high-quality stormwater approach, which builds a more sustainable approach to water management in the estate.

Silt fences will be installed on all blocks for the duration of building construction to prevent run-off from the estate during construction. All residents will be provided with information and an education program which details further measures they can take to achieve sustainable stormwater practices in the estate. And, importantly, the connectivity between Red Hill and Mount Mugga Mugga and onto Isaac Ridge-those areas of Canberra Nature Park-will be retained.

Mr Speaker, I would argue that those are high-quality outcomes for any residential estate in Canberra, and they are ones that we believe are appropriate. I understand the concerns from the conservation council, I understand the concerns from conservation groups, that this approach fails to recognise, in their view, the view that this is an ecological

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