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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1930 ..

Under this bill these trees would be listed on an ACT tree register and provided with a high level of protection. The strategy developed by this government for the transition from the current interim scheme to the permanent scheme would see a comprehensive survey of the city undertaken to identify trees of high importance. Tree protection measures, similar to the current interim scheme, will continue to be applied while the work is being undertaken.

The outcome of this process will be the establishment of an ACT tree register and the progressive lifting of the interim scheme across the city. However, in recognition that urban forest values may warrant general protection on the grounds of heritage significance or threat from development activity, the bill provides for the declaration of tree management precincts. The tree management precincts may be declared in an area where there is an identified risk to the urban forest values due to development activity; heritage values require the protection of the landscape; or construction activity associated with new estate developments poses a significant risk to trees.

In addition the bill establishes an independent tree advisory panel that will ensure that decisions made about trees and their management requirements will be subject to high calibre technical advice. There will also be improved procedures for review of decisions about trees. This bill represents a more strategic and targeted approach to tree protection than the interim scheme currently in place. It focuses tree protection measures on areas of particular trees where it is most needed. Importantly, in the majority of cases it will allow the people of Canberra to manage their own trees without interference. I commend the bill to the Assembly and table the explanatory memorandum.

Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.

Gaming Machine Bill 2004

Mr Quinlan, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (11.11): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I seek leave to have my presentation speech incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

The incorporated document appears at attachment 4 on page 2110.

MR QUINLAN: I also seek leave to make a very brief statement.

Leave granted.

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