Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 4093 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Yours sincerely

Terry Snow

Executive Chairman

I couldn't have said it better myself, Mr Speaker. I know that those in the departure lounge over there-the place you are when you want to be somewhere else, somewhere that's red, if you can get there-all 50 per cent of them, would rather not hear that sort of commentary. But it only reinforces in my mind, and in the mind of this government, that the government's approach on planning is endorsed by a wide section of the ACT community, not solely those-

Opposition members interjecting-

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, they have woken up now. Maybe it was the departure-lounge comment. The government's approach is endorsed not solely by those who want to get access to land but also by those in this city who understand the importance of strategic planning and who appreciate the long-term benefits that come from the establishment of government land development and an independent planning authority for the people of the ACT.

Yerrabi 2 estate

MRS DUNNE: My question is also addressed to the Minister for Planning, Mr Corbell. Minister, when you launched the Yerrabi 2 estate, you promised that the estate would achieve the goals of public-sector land development, better-quality design, environmental sustainability, choice for consumers and good economic outcomes for the territory. In the Canberra Times of 22 November, Mike Taylor considered whether the estate had met these goals and concluded that it had not.

Mr Stanhope: Whom was he writing for?

MRS DUNNE: I presume he was writing for himself, actually. He is a freelance journalist, after all.

Mr Stanhope: Yes, he's paid for it.

MRS DUNNE: Yes, by the Canberra Times. I will quote from his article, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs Dunne has the floor.

MRS DUNNE: In his article, Mr Taylor said:

On any objective assessment, the answer to those questions has to be no. With blocks costing between $140,000 and $180,000, it would seem that buyers are being asked to pay a premium, in some cases a $50,000 premium.

Minister, why has there been such an escalation in the prices of blocks at Yerrabi 2? Can you assure the Assembly that similar price increases will not be a factor in public sector land development in the future?

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .