Page 3189 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.26), in reply: Firstly, I would like to go back to some of Mrs Burke’s comments on consultation. Of course, this is dealt with in the committee’s report in paragraph 2.2. Molonglo and north Weston were identified in the Canberra spatial plan in 2004 for the next major potential greenfield area to accommodate Canberra’s urban development over the next 30 years and beyond. That is over four years ago, Mr Speaker.
Turning to consultations by the ACT Planning and Land Authority, ACTPLA released the draft variation of the territory plan 281 for public comment for 12 weeks from 31 August 2007 until 26 November 2007. ACTPLA received 158 written submissions and a further 73 online surveys, of which 36 made comments on the proposal. That is quite extraordinary, Mr Speaker, when you look at consultation processes. There were 158 written submissions and a further 73 online surveys with 36 comments on the proposal.
Representatives of ACTPLA and the NCA also made joint presentations to the Belconnen Community Council in September 2007; Weston Creek Community Council on 26 September 2007; and Woden Valley Community Council on 3 October 2007. I was there, Mr Speaker. They were very good presentations. Almost 100 people attended each of those meetings.
Additionally, ACTPLA hosted two drop-in information sessions. One was at the Belconnen library and another at the centre for teaching and learning in Stirling. ACTPLA staff also attended three similar sessions hosted by the NCA at Regatta Point. In accordance with the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, the amendment to the national capital plan is required before the draft variation to the territory plan can be implemented. So the NCA started consultations with residents in Weston Creek and that area. This continued right through until the last changes, which I think were on 10 June 2008.
It was a very extensive consultation period by ACTPLA, by the department, by the NCA before the planning and environment committee started its inquiry, Mr Speaker. We commenced our inquiry on 29 April 2008. That was referred to us by the minister. That is four months again of inquiry process into this draft variation. It was a very extensive inquiry. The committee took on board all submissions to its inquiry and looked, of course, at the previous submissions that were sent to ACTPLA and the NCA. It was a very extensive consultation period.
Mr Speaker, I do need to make some comments on Mrs Dunne’s presentation earlier on in regard to process by the committee. I think we do need to note the hypocrisy of Mrs Dunne on this occasion in saying that the committee rushed this inquiry and got the report through at the last minute. She is a great sort of supporter, she said, of the planning and environment committee, but it is interesting of course that on each occasion that I have stood here to give a report Mrs Dunne has bagged the committee. Every single occasion that I have delivered a report—
Mrs Dunne: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Gentleman presented a previous report this morning on which I made no comment.
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