Page 3270 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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issues identified in the consultation period were environmental issues, recreation, traffic concerns, population projections, housing supply, water supply, bushfire protection and planning process matters.
As a result of the community concerns raised and the ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, significant changes to the draft variation, structure plan and concept plans were implemented. These changes include refinements to urban development and open space boundaries, the realignment of road layouts, changes to landscape protection requirements and the undertaking of further environmental studies. Further changes included increases to urban open space and increases in development densities in areas close to key transport routes and areas of higher urban amenity.
In my separate role as environment minister under the former land act I was required to evaluate the preliminary assessment for draft variation 281 to determine whether the potential environmental impacts of the variation had been adequately identified. An independent auditor was engaged to assist in this evaluation. I found that the preliminary assessment adequately identified the environmental impacts associated with variation 281. However, this was conditional upon the ACT Planning and Land Authority addressing several recommendations identified by the independent auditor and me.
The relevant recommendations are incorporated into variation 281 and include:
• the requirement for environmental impact statements under the Planning and Development Act;
• the requirement for bushfire risk assessments in the detailed planning stages;
• the requirement for a heritage management plan to be undertaken for Weetangera Cemetery;
• the requirement for further air quality studies to be undertaken, and
• the requirement for the planning of buffer zones to maintain habitat connectivity in sensitive areas.
There has been significant interest in regard to a stormwater quality control lake on the Molonglo River. A lake on the Molonglo River was identified in the preliminary assessment as an option for stormwater management. It is important to understand that a lake or any other stormwater management measure is not identified in variation 281 and no government decision or commitment has been made with regard to this issue.
Stormwater management options for Molonglo will be analysed using a triple-bottom-line assessment approach to identify a preferred stormwater management option. Gauging the level of community support associated with stormwater management options will form a key component of this study. Further, the environmental impact statement ultimately required for the final preferred stormwater management option will include a community consultation component. Additional to identifying community concerns and support associated with the stormwater
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