Page 1306 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 23 March 2010
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cycleway into a separate off-road cyclepath; maintain the bus transit lane, which, hopefully, some day might become light rail; and remove one of the lanes of car traffic in each direction.
I know that Mr Seselja has commented that a one-lane road has not worked for Gungahlin, so why would it work for Molonglo? That is not what we are proposing. The roads in Gungahlin do not have a bus transit lane, an off-road cycle lane and a local car traffic lane, which is what would be part of John Gorton Drive. For Mr Seselja to assert that we are proposing a single lane for the main road in Molonglo is simply nonsense.
We know that good road and urban design and people-friendly spaces and places can promote active lifestyle by encouraging walking, cycling, public transport use and active recreation. On the other hand, places which are designed around private motorised transport end up, in effect, limiting a person’s opportunities and desires to be physically active. (Time expired.)
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (5.12): I thank Ms Le Couteur for bringing forward this matter of public importance on excellence in sustainable design in the Molonglo Valley development. I would like to assure the Assembly that the government is determined that Molonglo will be a leading-edge model of sustainable development. When Labor talks about sustainable development, we of course mean sustainable in every respect. That means environmental sustainability. It also means economic sustainability and social sustainability.
I am pleased to say that since 2001 this government have constantly moved to improve the planning system in the territory and, with the welcome support of all parties in this place, we completely overhauled the planning system in 2008, with the Planning and Development Act. We have slashed red tape within the system to ensure that the system sustains our building industry and the jobs of thousands of Canberrans. And, most importantly, Labor has taken politics out of planning.
As this matter of public importance relates specifically to the Molonglo Valley, I would like to take this opportunity to talk this afternoon, and advise the Assembly, about how planning is progressing and the types of sustainable outcomes that we are aiming for. The key sustainability features for the Molonglo Valley are: Molonglo will be designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. It is centrally located to reduce commuting distances the residents will face. It is being designed to encourage public transport use. It will be pedestrian friendly. Fifty per cent of its eventual 60,000 residents will live within a five-minute walk of shopping centres and bus stops. Ninety per cent will live within a 10-minute walk.
The spine of Molonglo will be its north-south arterial road. This transport corridor will provide an inter-town public transport route to the city, Belconnen, Weston and Woden. The busway will be able to be converted to light rail if the opportunity arises in the future. Importantly, the corridor will be lined with higher density development.
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