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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Thursday, 1 July 2004) . . Page.. 3152 ..

Territory plan—variation 226

Papers and statement by minister

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming, and Acting Minister for Planning): For the information of members, I present the following papers:

Land (Planning and Environment) Act, pursuant to section 29—Approval of Variation No. 226 to the Territory Plan—Phillip Section 22, Block 2—Phillip Pool, dated 28 June 2004, together with background papers, a copy of the summaries and reports, and a copy of any direction or report required.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

MR QUINLAN: Draft variation no 226 proposes to amend the territory plan by adding an area specific policy overlay for this site to ensure that public access to the existing pool facility is continued at all time if and when a long-term crown lease is granted. To this end, the variation proposes to include a specific clause in the territory plan written statement that prevents a lease variation being approved that would have the effect of removing the requirement that a 50-metre swimming pool be maintained and operated on the site and made available for public access for at least five months each year.

The variation was released for public comment on 12 December 2003 with comments closing on 18 February 2004. A total of five written submissions were received during that period. These submissions expressed general support for the proposal to ensure that the pool was protected for ongoing community access and use. No revisions were made to the variation as a result of the consultation process.

In its report No 28 of 2004, the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment made two recommendations in relation to the draft variation. The committee’s first recommendation was that the government proceed with the implementation of draft variation No 226 and that the minister investigate the possibility of affording the existing ice skating rink the same long-term protection as the pool. The committee acknowledged that the structure of the ice skating rink is privately owned and therefore not an ACT government asset. The government is of the opinion that the ice skating rink should remain as a privately operated commercial venture and that the government should not be involved in compelling the operator to maintain such a facility.

The committee’s second recommendation was that any future development application or lease variation for the pool and ice skating rink be considered in conjunction with the Woden town centre master plan to ensure that recreation and sporting facilities in the area are protected. The Woden Town Centre master plan was released in May 2004. The government will ensure that any application for development is in accordance with the master plan.

I now table territory plan variation 226.

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