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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1176 ..

have nominated will be included in a list of potential sites for further evaluation and planning assessment.

That was on 28 January. The block is now up for sale and I notice from the sale documents that are out and about that the lease development conditions seem to have been developed in a very short period of time after that date. The lease development conditions were developed by a private consultant, signed off by the private consultant on 16 February and signed off by the Land Authority on 18 February, which is a remarkably fast time for land allocation in this town at the moment.

I know that many members of the community have approached the government and I know that the ACT Council on the Ageing have looked at that site in particular and have agreed with the assessment of the Belconnen Community Council that it is an important site. I know that Ms Dundas has raised issues about the significant trees that would be cut down if we put a two-hectare bulky goods retailing site on the site. It might be that this is the time for the government to reconsider whether this is an appropriate time to sell this block of land.

It is on Lathlain Street, which will eventually be open to Belconnen Way and will be a significant entrance to Belconnen. One wonders whether bulky goods retailing is the right thing for that site. The Belconnen Community Council and many constituents in Belconnen are concerned about whether we are actually passing up a golden opportunity and if we wanted to save as many of the trees as possible it would be much easier to build aged persons accommodation around the trees than bulky goods retailing. I commend the Chief Minister for some of his actions and I hope that we see a satisfactory outcome for the benefit of all the community.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 11.01 pm until Tuesday, 30 March 2003, at 10.30 am.

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