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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2611 ..
MRS DUNNE
(continuing):As a member, and having worked as a ministerial adviser in this area, I know there are a large number of complaints received about compliance issues, and they are a headache. I know that people in the authority do not have the powers they need to quickly and effectively deal with these matters. We will be supporting them, because I think the measures go in the right direction. We will be watching to ensure we have the right number of powers to deliver to people the sort of compliance they need, so we have a built form and a lease administration which meets the needs of the people of the ACT.
I am pleased to see some amendments incorporated into this bill, which will allow for difficulties we have with leasing issues where there are encroachments onto public land. This is a matter which has transfixed one constituent of mine, who has dealings with this sort of thing on a day-to-day basis. I had some reservations about whether this was the best possible mechanism for addressing the issue. Nevertheless, it is the mechanism that is here and I believe it will do the deed. We will be supporting the amendments.
I note also that both the minister and Ms Dundas have circulated amendments. I applaud the minister's amendment, because that was an oversight. Having dealt with issues in relation to the enforcement of orders, I think it is important that there is a penalty regime which ensures that orders are not only given but can also be enforced.
I support the thrust of Ms Dundas' amendments. I believe she is right. The way things currently stand under the land act, only the executive has the power to do a number of things in relation to compliance. It is cumbersome, untidy and inefficient.
I think it is a good move to vest those powers in the authority. I believe it is unnecessary to vest them in both the executive and the authority, given that-as was pointed out to me-the executive already has the power to direct the authority to do certain things. This means it can effectively use any power which already exists under this act. In that regard, the Liberal opposition supports the bill. It also supports the amendments put forward by both Ms Dundas and the government.
MS DUNDAS
(5.39): The enforcement of the ACT's planning system has been under review for a number of years. The government has advised me that this legislation has been in the pipeline for some time and was originally developed under the previous government. The ACT Democrats welcome this initiative to reform the compliance system for planning in Canberra.During my time in the Assembly, I have had a number of inquiries about the enforcement of planning laws. A number of disgruntled residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the current arrangements. This proposal addresses a number of inadequacies in the present procedures. The ACT Democrats will be supporting this bill.
Canberra-internationally recognised as a planned city-has always placed specific emphasis on the importance of planning for future development and the layout of our city. At the moment, the territory is developing the Canberra spatial plan, which will hopefully inform our planning decisions over the next 20 to 30 years. However, there is not much point in investing a great deal of time and energy into good planning if our authorities do not adequately enforce the principles.
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