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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 3186 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

exhibited draft variation. Specifically, it amends the boundary between precincts "a"and "b"to accommodate a proposal for the redevelopment of Jamison. The variation has also been revised to allow a maximum building height of four storeys or 15 metres above ground level, whichever is the greater, across precincts "a", "b"and "c"and not just precincts "b"and "c"as proposed in the exhibited draft. This revision is consistent with the original intention of the master plan.

The Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Planning and Environment considered the variation and, in their report No 20 of July this year, recommended that the draft variation be adopted. The committee also recommended that the Minister for Planning include, in the government response to the committee's recommendations on draft variation No 202, an explicit statement of effects on adjacent and surrounding areas. This statement must also include a study of transport issues related to traffic flows and safety for the centre and surrounding areas, with particular attention to any impacts flowing from construction of access to Halloran Close and Wiseman Street following any access from Belconnen Way.

In relation to this recommendation, the government considers it more appropriate that these issues are addressed at the development application stage. In this regard it should be noted that, during the master plan development, a transport and engineering services assessment was undertaken, together with an investigation report for block 20 section 50 Macquarie. I commend the variation to the Assembly.

Commonwealth/State/Territory Disability Agreement

Paper and ministerial statement

MR WOOD (Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Arts and Heritage) (3.44): I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement concerning the Commonwealth/State/Territory Disability Agreement.

Leave granted.

MR WOOD: Following extensive negotiations, I am now able to report to the Assembly that the ACT has signed the new Commonwealth/State/Territory Disability Agreement. The agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territory has effect from July 2002 to June 2007. It provides funding for a range of services for people with a disability, including accommodation, support, access to the community, respite care and peak bodies. In addition, these services assist the families and communities who support people with a disability.

The ACT and the Commonwealth have also signed a bilateral agreement addressing issues and projects specific to the needs and circumstances of the ACT community. The ACT government has committed a total of $188 million over the life of the agreement. This is an average annual growth of 6.84 per cent for the term of this agreement.

For its part, the Commonwealth will provide a total of $39 million to the ACT for a range of services for people with a disability. This equates to an average annual growth of 4.39 per cent in funds to the ACT for the term of the agreement. The

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