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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 5019 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Committee on Planning and Environment considered the revised draft variation and in its report No 23 of 27 November this year and made eight recommendations. The committee's first recommendation was the government should not seek to implement land-use policies that are dependent upon committee recommendations and then attempt to dictate the direction and timing of deliberations in such a way as to compromise the independence of committees. However, it has not been the government's intention to compromise the independence of the committee. Draft variation 130 represents a substantial body of work carried out by the ACT Planning and Land Authority to a very high standard. By its nature it is a complex process where time pressures are almost inevitable. In this context the government appreciates the timely manner in which the committee considered the variation.

The committee's second recommendation was that amended structure and implementation plans be readily accessible to prospective land purchasers. The Territory Plan map and written statement will be amended to incorporate the revised structure plan. The Territory Plan is available at the ACT Planning and Land Authority shopfront and at the ACTPLA web site. In addition, a copy of this recommendation will be forwarded to the Land Development Agency for its consideration in preparing land release packages for developers and for individual block releases to members of the public.

The committee's third recommendation was that ACTPLA ensure sufficient time for the committee to conduct a valid examination of the draft variation to reduce the potential for the committee to be compromised by already-approved government policies. The committee handed down its report on 27 November this year, four months after the referral of the draft variation.

The committee's fourth recommendation was that adequate community facilities be provided for in future planning for ACT suburban developments. The North Gungahlin structure plan identifies community facility sites throughout the new suburbs, introducing a greater level of detail of their location. Most community facility sites are located close to commercial centres, thus providing good access to public transport, open space and schools and facilitating a sense of community. Changing community needs will affect the number and types of facilities required, resulting in the need for planning to retain a degree of flexibility. Sites for government primary schools are identified at Bonner, Jacka and Taylor. The site at Taylor is co-located with a government high school. A further site is set aside for a possible education facility, a college, at Moncrieff. In addition to identified school sites, other possible community facility sites are identified within the open space system for community facilities requiring smaller sites such as churches, scout halls and community halls.

The committee's fifth recommendation was that the protection and possible expansion of the Mulligans Flat Reserve be considered as further detailed planning is undertaken. Following the preparation of the draft variation, detailed planning studies were undertaken for the suburb of Forde, which lies adjacent to the Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve. In response to these studies, the specific policies for Forde have been amended to increase areas of open space and retain endangered species. Further detailed planning studies are now proceeding with regard to Bonner. In addition, the government is progressing a nature reserve in the Gooroo area as an extension of Mulligans Flat to the

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