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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 224 ..

MR WOOD: Yes, you shifted it. I think Trevor Kaine was still in the Liberal Party then. The Liberal Party signed off on this, through the Assembly process. Do you know who else signed off on it? Let me quote from paragraph 21 of the Planning and Environment Committee's report dated 5 December 1995-I know time gets away from us. Guess who else signed off on it? Paragraph 21 states:

In coming to a conclusion about the draft Variation, the committee is conscious of the call by the Gungahlin Community council-on behalf of the residents of Gungahlin-for the committee "to put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the Town Centre"by endorsing the draft Variation as the necessary preliminary step to the Government being in a position to commence work as soon as possible.

The Gungahlin Community Council supported it. They supported the concept that Mr Corbell is now taking through. We consulted with the Gungahlin Community Council. But let me emphasise that these things need a great lead time. You just cannot keep changing direction-I am sorry; you just cannot.

The concept was taken through and carefully examined. I get a bit offended-I won't use an offensive term here-when certain people, who have had a later involvement, accuse us of not consulting and not listening. The consultation in this case has been as well carried out as consultation in any other case that has gone through this Assembly. That is the case, as simple as that.

Some other views are now coming forward. Okay, it is fair enough that other views should come forward, but do not accuse Mr Corbell or anybody else of not consulting. There has been very thorough consultation by Mrs Dunne's people as well. Make your comments but do not be sanctimonious and say that we are not consulting, because that won't wash.

Mrs Burke: Well, why are the people saying you are not?

MR WOOD: You should be educated about this whole story. The fact is there are now 25,000 people in Gungahlin and most of those 25,000 people do not know the background. There is no doubt about that and that is to be expected. Certain decisions were made in the past in consultation with the then council. Of course the residents do not know. People do not switch in and intensely listen to the debate; of course they do not know. But I think we ought to stand up for what has happened.

Let me read something else. A lot of the concern, understandably, is about roads. That has been understood and there is a long-term plan to do something better about it, and that will happen as the centre develops. The quote reads:

The network of north south east west boulevards in the Central Area are not arterial roads and are completely different in scale and quality to Northbourne Avenue and other arterial roads in Canberra ...

Okay. That is the way it has been designed. The quote continues:

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