Page 1213 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation): For the information of members, I present the following papers:
Planning and Development Act, pursuant to subsection 79(1)—Approval of Variation No 261 to the Territory Plan—Part Blocks 2 and 3 and Block 5 Section 75 Watson—changes to Commercial CZ6 Leisure and Accommodation Zone, dated 18 March 2009, together with background papers, a copy of the summaries and reports, and a copy of any direction or report required, and incorporating:
Planning and Environment—Standing Committee—Report 35—Variation to the Territory Plan No 261—Part Blocks 2 and 3 and Block 5, Section 75 Watson (Sixth Assembly)—Government response.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the papers.
Leave granted.
MR BARR: Draft variation No 261 to the territory plan proposes to rezone part of block 2 and 3 section 75 Watson from commercial CZ6 leisure and accommodation for residential purposes—residential RZ1 suburban—as the land is considered suitable for residential development.
The majority of the land intended to be rezoned is known as the Australian Heritage Village, which was originally built as a tourist facility. Many tourist uses have been tried on the site and have failed, apart from an operating motel and petrol station which will be retained on site under the current commercial zoning.
The Australian Heritage Village would now require major refurbishment to operate as originally intended. The proponent has proposed that the site will be redeveloped as a residential development of approximately 300 dwellings and will incorporate portable housing. Part block 2 section 75 Watson is currently unleased territory land and is zoned commercial CZ6, leisure and accommodation. The ACT government has approved a direct grant of part of block 2 subject to the outcome of this territory plan variation process. This parcel will also be zoned RZ1 and is intended to be developed contiguously with the former heritage village for residential purposes.
The variation also proposes to rezone block 5 section 75 again from the commercial CZ6 leisure and accommodation zone, but this time to urban parks and recreation, PRZ1—urban open space zone—as this site contains memorial plantings and is managed by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services. This rezoning is proposed to better accommodate the existing use of the site for memorial plantings.
The draft variation was released for public comment on 12 October 2007 and attracted 433 public submissions, 408 standard letters—form letters—and 25 submissions from individuals or organisations. The main issues that were raised in the public submissions related to the loss of the Australian Heritage Village, its buildings and heritage values and the loss of related arts, community, social and tourist uses from the area. There was also more general concern expressed at the loss of land zoned for leisure and accommodation for a tourist venue on the north side.
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