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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1440 ..

The Taskforce has made detailed enquiries and sought the views of the community sector. Their report, including a number of recommendations relating specifically to land use and planning considerations, including requiring a proportion of affordable housing to be included in residential developments, and this report is being considered by the Government.

Another element of the Government's policy, changing the Community Facility Land Use Policy to allow it to be used for aged care accommodation is in place. This will allow such housing to be provided in areas were the need for such accommodation is the greatest.

Land is also being released with a requirement that units be constructed to adaptable and accessible standards. This ensures that a variety of housing types are available throughout the city to provide accommodation that meets the changing requirements of older people.

(2) See parts 3 and 4.

(3) The Affordable Housing Taskforce's report will assist the Government in setting criteria for purpose built, but lower cost, housing for older people in new land releases. The Taskforce considered that, for larger developments (10 units/blocks or more), a certain percentage of blocks or dwellings should be set aside for affordable housing. An indicative figure of 3-4 per cent of units per development was proposed and, along with other Taskforce recommendations, this is under consideration by the Government.

(4) Since taking office, the Government has released land at the Yerrabi II Estate and this area included sites for adaptable and accessible housing. To date, through ACT Housing and the Land Release Program, the Government has not acquired lower cost purpose built houses for older people.

No separate statistics are available on lower cost, purpose built houses for older people constructed by the private sector in new greenfield developments however the Government is strongly encouraging the private sector to do so. Older person's housing developments are generally covered by the community land components of the Land Release Program and these sites are almost predominantly in established areas where older people wish to re-settle.

(5) As indicated above, the Government is considering the report of the Affordable Housing Taskforce and the issues raised by Mr Cornwell are covered in that report.

The need to provide appropriate accommodation for older people is an important component of the Government's Land Release Program and announcements about the forthcoming Program will be made in the 2003 Budget context.

From 1 July 2003 the Government's new Land Development Agency will be established and one of the Agency's first tasks will be to facilitate the introduction of direct Government involvement in greenfields land development. Among other

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