Page 4056 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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at every turn. I do think it is reasonable to suggest that, in relation to a specific aspect of an overarching scheme, development or plan, whilst there has been serial consultation in relation to a plan generally, when one comes to one particular point in relation to the implementation of that plan or its development we start the consultation again.
One of the, I think, constant laments that we hear is that essentially every minute detail of every step in the implementation of an overarching master plan or plan needs to be separately and repeatedly consulted upon. There has been consultation on every aspect of issues around the development of Canberra. The Canberra Central Taskforce consulted deeply and vigorously in relation to all aspects of the city.
I must say that in relation to section 63 the government is incredibly pleased to be responding to continuing demand for commercial land within the city. This is a very significant site, one of the more significant sites within London Circuit. It will provide for perhaps up to 100,000 square metres of development. It will be a mixed use development. It will have significant impact on the look of Canberra and its continued future development. The government is absolutely determined to ensure that in relation to the development that is undertaken in section 63, having regard to its significance, we ensure that it truly is an iconic building and feature and precinct, and it will be.
The government commits to that and as a result of the overlapping interests of the national capital and the ACT in relation to this particular site, I have absolutely no doubt that the outcome will be, along with many of the recent developments around London Circuit, particularly in City West, the production of a signature building of which we can all be proud.
As our architectural standards continue to rise, as they have in recent years, we now have in the last two to three years in the new developments within Canberra some of the most significant architecture, I think, that has been produced in recent decades. That is a reflection of the significant work that ACTPLA and the NCA have done together and separately in relation to the raising of standards in our building environment. It is a great credit to the previous Minister for Planning, Simon Corbell, and ACTPLA that we have produced the results that are now increasingly becoming evident in the built environment, particularly within the city.
Tharwa bridge
MR PRATT: My question is to the Chief Minister, in his capacity as minister for heritage. On Tuesday afternoon last, on ABC radio, you said in relation to new information relating to the preservation of the Tharwa bridge:
The advice is that the bridge cannot be preserved or saved or kept upright for less than $10 million.
During the debate on the motion yesterday, I tabled the New South Wales RTA report dated 28 September 2007 which Minister Hargreaves indicated on 14 November 2007 he and his departmental officials had not seen. That report clearly indicates that the
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