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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 10 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2975 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

All of North and South Canberra, Woden, the early parts of Belconnen and possibly even parts of Weston have leases with a clause that allows residential purposes.

When Mrs Dunne asked her question of the minister, he said he would check and get back to us. But I am not sure that we have heard whether or not that is true. Perhaps he would like to enlighten us-he might like to seek leave to tell us-on whether or not he can legislate away a property right. I would be very surprised if he could. I would very surprised if draft variation 200 has the ability to take away a right from a citizen.

As we heard from the minister, draft variation 200 will guide the spatial plan. We think it should be the reverse. This comes into effect on 1 September. As of 1 September this is what the planners will look to when determining whether or not an application can go ahead. In effect, this becomes the law some time next week. This is what they will be guided by.

The community needs more time to discuss this. This is a very large change from what we currently have. But the right to discuss it will be denied for a period after 1 September. This is a government that always talks about consultation and listening to the community. The community I have consulted with told me they want more time to understand this. This should be withdrawn, because it will come into interim effect on Sunday. This is what people will have their applications judged against. A whole lot more about what we do in the city needs to be discussed before we start using this as the guide.

The motion moved by Mrs Dunne asks for DVP200 to be withdrawn. It asks for further consultation and discussion on its implications. We saw emerge only this week the prospect of a city near Burra. Other shires are doing work around the ACT. I believe this plan will lead to urban sprawl. This urban sprawl will fill the available land space in the ACT much more quickly, without any regard to making Canberra a sustainable city.

If the government is genuine about the spatial plan, if it is not some sort of charade, if they are genuine and are consulting people about what they think the city should look like and what their city should be, it cannot go ahead with DV200 and say, "No matter what you think, DV200 is the way it is going to happen." On Sunday it comes into interim effect and becomes the tool by which development will be judged. There are some fundamental questions about the size and nature of Canberra. The spatial plan may give the opportunity to discuss them and determine how they work.

Another issue is whether or not we do go over the border to the north to Gooromon-jeir, the next town centre as planned in the 1960s. If we do not go over the border, how will we be able to grow inside the confines of the city? We cannot go to the Jerrabomberra Valley, for environmental reasons. I do not believe we will ever cross the Murrumbidgee, and I do not think we should. The people of Canberra value that part of the ACT beyond the Murrumbidgee as it is, not as residential.

Gungahlin has room for approximately another 100,000 people. (Extension of time granted.) A limiting sum is being put on the equation that is population growth. Several of us attended a function at University House before the election where, with RAPI, we discussed population. The spatial plan may well be the opportunity to further that debate. How big can Canberra be? How large will it grow? How will it be sustainable? But if

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