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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2022 ..

facilities. The several major office site releases identified will enable Civic to strongly compete with recent and current activity in places like Barton and the airport, and in doing so contribute to a more sustainable city.

Mr Speaker, the ongoing demand for greenfields residential land will be met by releases, predominantly in Gungahlin. To improve housing affordability, sites for 100 dwellings per year will be identified in greenfields land releases each year to be sold through restricted ballots to moderate income earners seeking entry into first home ownership and for affordable housing providers. In addition, Mr Speaker, this progressive move will also allow ACT Housing to purchase some 20 to 60 blocks per year at similar prices.

Consistent with the government’s policies, Mr Speaker, in building for our ageing, community sites have been identified at Bruce, Belconnen, Gordon, Nicholls, Greenway and Monash to meet demand for high-care and low-care accommodation over the next five years. A proactive approach will continue to be undertaken in responding to the needs of an ageing community, and further sites will be identified to ensure that the needs of our senior citizens are met in a timely way.

The emerging need, Mr Speaker, for more bulky goods retailing space will also be met with the progressive release of sites at the Newcastle Street/Canberra Avenue corner at Fyshwick and in the Gungahlin Town Centre. The need for localised retail facilities for the growing population in the new areas of Gungahlin will be met with the release of the Casey Group Centre in 2007-08 and the identification of local centres in Forde and another in Amaroo which will be the first stage of a group centre release.

I’m also very pleased to confirm to members that land for local centres has been identified in Dunlop and Macgregor to further meet retailing needs in West Belconnen. The strategy identifies a major opportunity for a retailing mixed-use development in the Belconnen Town Centre that has the potential to be integrated with a new bus interchange. Further planning work is occurring in relation to this site. The Canberra Spatial plan has confirmed Fyshwick, Hume and Mitchell for industrial development, and sites in these areas will be released in accordance with demand.

The document tabled today will be circulated to all community advisory groups, community councils and peak industry groups. Members should also be aware it’s available to the wider community through the government’s website, shopfronts and libraries.

Answers to questions on notice

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth has indicated that he wants to request an explanation concerning unanswered questions, pursuant to standing order 118A. Due to circumstances requiring debate of the appropriation bill at 3.00 pm today, he was unable to do so following question time. To do so now, the leave of the house is needed.

Question Nos 1460, 1461 and 1462

MR SMYTH: I seek the leave of the house to quiz a minister.

Leave granted.

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