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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2403 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

It brings to the end a very long process-of nearly four years duration-that has brought about the beginning of the redevelopment of the Bunda Street car park in Civic. This will involve the expanding of the current black tarmac car park into mixed-used commercial, community and residential developments.

The committee was broadly in support of the change of land use, but had some concerns. The committee was principally concerned about the length of time it took before the issue of land use change was brought to the committee and therefore the Assembly.

We were concerned that, after four years of a great deal of investment in time and resources, if we had had an objection, it would have been difficult to have voice it. We felt that that was a constraint on the operation of the committee and therefore on the Assembly. We will recommend that, in future, when major developments are proposed, the land use changes are made early in the piece, not later.

Whilst the committee supported the very important proposal that will see a rebirthing of the Griffin Centre into new and hopefully better premises, we were concerned that there may not, in future, be sufficient community space available in Civic.

We recognise that the proposed new Griffin Centre will provide much more and better space than is currently provided in the old, outmoded building. However, we have made a recommendation that land adjacent to the proposed new Griffin Centre should also have the capacity to have an overlay, or in some way to be considered for community use in the future. Therefore, if a future government decides that it needs more community land in the area, they will not have to go through the draft variation process. I commend the report to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Report No 6

MRS DUNNE (10.38): Mr Speaker, I present the following report:

Planning and Environment-Standing Committee-Report No 6-Draft Variation No 182 to the Territory Plan-Public Land-Nature Reserve-Yellow Box/Red Gum Grassy Woodland, dated 14 August 2002.

I do not have a copy of the extract of the minutes. I move:

That the report be noted.

This is an important process in putting some of our endangered yellow box red gum grassy woodlands into reserves. The committee was entirely in support of this happening immediately. In addition, it puts into reserve the Aranda snow gums. The one concern the committee has is that the area in relation to east O'Malley is not yet included in nature reserves. We have recommended that this happen as soon as possible.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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