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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4461 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I note in closing that in a commentary in the paper this morning, Mr Mike Taylor, who disclosed his extensive business links with the building and construction industry, criticised this government for not achieving a high yield in the Yerrabi 2 estate. Of course, that is very technical language, but when you strip it all away, what does "high yield"mean? "High yield"means "we didn't cram enough blocks into the estate". That is what it means and that is what this community is sick of. This community is sick of developers, whether they are from the public or private sectors, trying to squeeze too many blocks into a land development parcel.

One of the objectives of this land development agency will be to deliver more liveable neighbourhoods, less crowded neighbourhoods, better streetscapes, better urban design outcomes, places that people would want to live in in 20 or 30 years time. If Mrs Dunne is so enamoured of the success of complete free market private planned development in the ACT, I challenge her to visit a few pockets in Ngunnawal, or even Amaroo or Palmerston. The tension between the government planning agency and the private land developer at these locations has resulted in very poor outcomes.

We believe that the Land Development Agency as proposed in this legislation, along with the Planning and Land Authority and the other government structures that are proposed in this bill, are indeed a way towards addressing challenges that our community wants to see addressed.

Mr Speaker, I would now like to seek leave to move my amendments 19 and 20 together.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: I move amendments 19 and 20 circulated in my name together, which amend clause 38 [see schedule 1 at page 4499].

Mr Speaker, these two amendments deal with, first of all, a clause to refer to the objectives of the Territory Plan rather than urban management objectives in the functions of the land agency. This matter was raised in discussions during the roundtable with members. It was felt better to clarify that the objectives of the Territory Plan are the elements that the land agency must exercise its functions in accordance with rather than urban management objectives, because urban management objectives are not spelt out as such in the Territory Plan whereas the objectives of the Territory Plan itself are quite clear.

Secondly, Mr Speaker, my amendment No 20 amends clause 38 (4) (b) by removing the requirement that the land agency perform its functions in accordance with sound business practice. Again, this is a result of discussion. In fact, this amendment was first flagged by Mrs Dunne. It was felt more appropriate to simply assert that the land agency must exercise its functions in accordance with the overall objectives as set out at the beginning of the bill.

Amendments agreed to.

Sitting suspended from 6.00 to 7.30 pm

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