Page 5510 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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access to arterial roadways is important in building sustainable transport solutions for the Tuggeranong Valley for all commuters.
The ACT Greens believe that in Tuggeranong, as well as the rest of the ACT, planning, roads and sustainable transport cannot be considered in isolation. Effective planning in Erindale can create spaces that encourage residents to walk down to their local shops or community centres, get on a bus to work and get to work in a cheap and timely fashion. Good planning can invigorate local business, reduce crime, increase the take-up of walking, cycling and public transport and deliver more integrated, happier communities.
The ACT government have indicated that they are committed to implementing a master plan in a more equitable and practical manner than has been done in the past. We are thankful that the government have agreed to undertake a master plan for Erindale at the same time as Tuggeranong, and we think the residents will be pleased that comprehensive planning for the valley is now happening.
If this motion succeeds, the ACT Greens look forward to working with the government, the opposition and the dedicated members of the Erindale and wider Tuggeranong community to develop a plan for their future.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (11.06): I thank Ms Bresnan for bringing this motion forward today. The government is taking a very careful approach to planning in the entire Tuggeranong Valley. In Tuggeranong, as in the rest of the ACT, we are looking to make our city more ecologically and more economically sustainable. But whilst we are looking forward, there are legacy issues we need to deal with which will impact on how we achieve these goals.
When Tuggeranong was originally planned, the thinking about the development of our cities was quite different. At the time, the key influence on the urban form was transport, particularly the car, and creating an efficient city structure that enabled easy movement between Canberra’s various centres. Since then, there has been a significant evolution in thinking, and with the realisation that cities of the future face challenges around energy and water in particular due to climate change, planners now seek to build adaptable cities. This means a reduced ecological footprint, less resource use and the ability to cope with change. This means that our community must also adapt. We must think about how we live and the sort of city we live in. We must plan for a population that is changing and moving. We need to accept higher levels of housing and urban density. The quarter-acre block can no longer be the only form of housing; that is no longer sustainable.
Mindful of this, at the last election, ACT Labor committed to invest $200,000 in a planning study and master plan for the Tuggeranong town centre. It is intended that this work will be undertaken in the 2010-11 financial year. In preparation for this work, the Planning and Land Authority will shortly commence an infrastructure study. The infrastructure study will require an investment of $100,000. It will determine the adequacy of current infrastructure, including roads, car parking, cycle and pedestrian paths, public transport, and utility services.
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