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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (19 August) . . Page.. 2860 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

draft variation 200. Mr Robert Thorn represented the Royal Australian Institute of Architects before the Planning and Environment Committee, when he gave evidence on 28 February. He said that Canberra needs a much more sophisticated and fine-grained planning tool than was provided by draft variation 200. He went on to say:

There are a number of criteria such as topography, orientation, and relationship to open spaces which would make certain areas ... better suited for medium-density development than others.

What the Royal Australian Institute of Architects is saying is: "Just because it's near a shop doesn't mean it's the best place in architectural terms, in layout terms, to build multi-unit developments."He said:

This is especially from a sustainability point of view, but also from an amenity point of view and minimising the impact on adjacent sites, et cetera.

What we're suggesting, what the Institute of Architects was suggesting, is that there should be a fine-grained selection of sites throughout suburbs that are suitable to medium density. Just because it's beside a shop, Ms Tucker, doesn't mean it's the right place to put medium density.

The Planning and Environment Committee brings to this place well-thought-out, well-researched and well-consulted-upon recommendations. The first principal recommendation was: don't do it because it's not good enough. If you really feel that you have to do it, we made a multitude of suggestions about how you could make it better. All of those, Mr Speaker, except one, were disregarded by this minister and this member who disregarded everything that was said by the committee.

This is why, Mr Speaker, draft variation 200 should be disallowed. It is the wrong solution for a pressing problem. This minister is so single-minded that he cannot see his way through to fairly represent and fairly act to save the garden city suburb. His one-size-fits-all solution will be the death of planning in the ACT.

Question put:

That Mrs Dunne's motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted-

Ayes 7

Noes 8

Mrs Burke

Mrs Dunne

Mr Berry

Mr Quinlan

Mr Cornwell

Mr Pratt

Mr Corbell

Mr Stanhope

Mrs Cross

Mr Stefaniak

Ms Gallagher

Ms Tucker

Ms Dundas

Mr Hargreaves

Mr Wood

Question so resolved in the negative.

MR SPEAKER: Ms MacDonald and Mr Smyth are paired.

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