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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 4596 ..
MR CORBELL (continuing):
and the innovation in ACTPLA's neighbourhood planning program. According to the judges, the neighbourhood planning program is a consultative program associated with the ongoing development of locally based physical plans.
Mrs Dunne: It has been bagged by the residents.
MR CORBELL: I know that Mrs Dunne does not like it, but I think that it is fair that we endorse the achievements of those professionals in the ACT public service when they are recognised by their peers. The judges went on to say:
This consultation program and associated plans specifically address key planning principles which are established and then applied to a process of collaborative community consultation which has evolved and been improved since its inception, and in response to communities. While the concept of engaging communities is not new to the profession of urban planning, the range of techniques applied in this case is considered to be an innovative approach to community planning. The judges consider that in this case, the process sets an example for encouraging genuine community participation in planning and is a worthy winner of an award for Community Based Planning.
The judges also forwarded both the city west master plan and the neighbourhood planning program to the Planning Institute of Australia's national awards, which will take place in the coming months.
The other award winner was the North Gungahlin structure plan, which won the award for planning excellence in environmental planning-an award designed to encourage schemes or projects which promote the principles of environmental planning or conservation and show how the environment can be maintained to meet the present needs of the community without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. I think that all of the award recipients should be well congratulated on their efforts. This is a demonstration of the competency and professionalism of our planning agency which underscores the government's commitment to inform decision making for the future planning of Canberra.
MR HARGREAVES: Minister, could you enlighten me on exactly what the judges did say about the North Gungahlin structure plan?
Mrs Dunne: He just did.
MR CORBELL: I am very happy to outline what the judges said. I know that Mrs Dunne hates to hear that our planning authority is delivering best practice because that undermines her capacity to slur the professionalism of those officers who work so hard to deliver professional policy advice to government and the Assembly. Mrs Dunne is more interested in the politics than in the capacity of our planning agency. The judges determined that the North Gungahlin structure plan:
... clearly demonstrates a high level of appropriate research and planning rigour, with realistic and achievable outcomes. The Plan includes a clear structure of planning principles that should lead to the creation of accessible, vibrant community spaces and living environments. The Plan balances the need for future residential areas whilst responding positively to environmental concerns and the preservation
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