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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Wednesday, 3 March 2004) . . Page.. 642 ..

and, secondly, because there is community interest in whether or not a development of the size that is proposed should proceed.

That is why we are going through that process and I think I would probably be beaten around the head more in this place if the government sought to in some way ignore those comments or in some way circumvent that. I have learnt that from Karralika. The Assembly does not want the government to seek to fast-track or circumvent the normal statutory provisions of the Land Act, so we are not. Mrs Dunne cannot have it both ways. She cannot beat me over the head about trying to fast-track, say, a drug rehabilitation centre by using legitimate powers in the Land Act—and then accuse the government of going too slow on approvals for aged care developments. She cannot have it both ways. She has to make up her mind what sort of planning process she wants. What we are doing is applying the provisions of the Land Act. If Mrs Dunne thinks the provisions of the Land Act are inadequate, I would love her to tell me exactly which ones she would change.

The Liberals have been in opposition now for 2½ years. Have they released a planning policy? No. Have they released any planning policy document? No. Have they released any position on how they would revise the Land Act? No. Have they released any position on the use of the call-in power? No. Have they released any position on urban consolidation? No. Have they released any policy on affordable housing? No. Have they released any policy on dual occupancy development? No. All we hear from Mrs Dunne is, “This is not good enough.” Well, Mrs Dunne, it is time for you to deliver some policies on what you would do to address this situation. The government is applying the Land Act as it is required to do.

Southern Cross Homes in Garran has also received in principle agreement by the government, by the cabinet, for the direct grant of land. That proposal was also going through the normal statutory requirements, and together those two developments, when fully operational, are expected to deliver 170 residential care beds and over 100 independent living units. On top of that, the government is progressing a range of other development proposals. For example, section 87 in Belconnen was identified by the Liberal government in the Belconnen town centre master plan for aged persons accommodation. An initial planning study has confirmed the potential of the site for a range of accommodation types. It is proposed that a 100-bed residential care facility and 150 aged persons units be built on part of this site. It is planned to release this site through a competitive process later this year.

The government has also started initial work for the development of part of section 46 in Greenway for aged persons accommodation. But the current land use policy under the territory plan does not permit the proposed use. Further planning work is required to confirm the suitability of the land, and the government has commenced this work. Release of this land is a more medium term prospect as a preliminary assessment and a variation to the territory plan are required.

In addition, as part of its land bank proposals the government has identified further sites in Gordon and Nicholls. The Nicholls site can accommodate at least 100 residential high care beds and some level of independent living units. The Gordon site is a slightly smaller site. Again, these are subject to investigations as to their detailed suitability. And, again, these studies are now under way. The government has also identified a site in

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