Page 1527 - Week 05 - Thursday, 7 April 2005
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West is also consistent with the recent agreement between the territory and the Australian National University aimed at bringing the university and the city together and creating a diverse and vibrant mix of student life, community activities and groups, commercial activity and a hospitality-type activity that everyone in the city can enjoy.
The changes proposed by draft variation 236 include implementing the recommendations of the City West master plan; providing that opportunity for revitalisation that I have outlined; relaxing those restrictions on building heights, gross floor area, colours and finishes; removing the special requirements that apply to the city and replacing them with a set of principles and policies; generally removing the requirement for mandatory preliminary assessment; and removing the requirement for a development control plan.
This is truly an example of streamlining development controls in the city area; truly an example of creating an environment that will encourage investment and activity to deliver the city centre that we all aim for.
Housing
DR FOSKEY: My question is directed to the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services. On page 55 of the social plan, the government makes a commitment to “continue to implement measures in response to the report of the Affordable Housing Taskforce”. It also committed to release an implementation plan to accompany its final response to the recommendations of the taskforce.
It has been more than two years since the taskforce made these recommendations and one year since the social plan was released. I am yet to come across an implementation plan. To date the government responses to the taskforce recommendations have not established clear targets and actions for increasing housing affordability, timelines for achievements, or performance indicators for monitoring progress. When will the government produce the implementation plan to accompany its response to the Affordable Housing Taskforce?
MR HARGREAVES: I do not entirely agree with Dr Foskey; in fact, I do not. The government has tackled affordable housing and a range of issues. It has already started to implement quite a number of initiatives, as Dr Foskey would probably be aware. For example, one of those issues is releasing land specifically for low-income earners. Because I disagree with Dr Foskey, it would probably be more appropriate for me to offer her a briefing from departmental officers on the range of issues. If she has further questions, I am happy to cop them.
DR FOSKEY: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. How will the government establish timelines and targets through which progress can be monitored and evaluated?
MR HARGREAVES: As I have just indicated, there is a range of issues, strategies and commitments that came out of our commitment on affordable housing; the homelessness strategy was just a part of it. There is such a raft of them that I do not propose to stand up here and list the lot. I am sure that the briefing offered to Dr Foskey will address that for her in detail.
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