Page 3174 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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In a working partnership with the CSIRO, we will develop world’s best practice in sustainable development demonstration projects such as the one at East Lake. Further enhancing stormwater harvesting in new estates is also on the government’s agenda, as is establishing new approaches to water reuse in the Molonglo Valley development. The government will continue to drive energy efficiencies in new and existing homes, consistent with the COAG national strategy on energy efficiency.
The second priority I wish to emphasise is listening to the community. Perhaps the most difficult element of any development assessment system is balancing the rights of the community with the rights of the individual. The planning system impacts on these competing rights through the consultation process, the notification process and, to a limited extent, the appeals process. A key feature of the broader planning system is the focus of public consultation in the development of the territory plan and its related codes. This is designed to make the system fairer on everyone by engaging the community in setting the planning rules, rather than debating policy through individual development proposals.
It is the intent of the government to ensure that there are appropriate opportunities for the public to be effectively engaged in strategic planning projects and the development of planning policy, but we must do so in a way that limits the potential for adopted planning policy to be subject to contest through the processing of individual development applications. At the same time, the government will continue to encourage proponents to consult with those who may be affected by their proposals and respond appropriately before lodging a development application.
As we consider this budget, I would like to remind members that the government intends to maintain the statutory independence of development assessment. To ensure development assessment is undertaken without political or commercial interference, the government will continue to keep politics out of planning. It will remain a statutory function handled at arm’s length from the government, providing the community and industry with confidence in the separation of power between policymaking and development application decisions.
Turning to the current budget, the government is committed to ensuring Canberra continues to develop in a way that includes our community, grows our economy and protects our environment. We are carefully targeting our planning investments into projects that achieve these three goals. The budget includes $300,000 for the Tuggeranong town centre and Erindale group centre planning studies and $100,000 for a planning study for Pialligo. It includes $17 million for the construction of two ponds in the new suburb of Coombs in the Molonglo Valley. The ponds will provide a source of water for irrigation to enhance the amenity and appeal of the development without increasing reliance on Canberra’s drinking water supply.
The budget also provides $2.1 million for several feasibility studies, including stormwater management in the Molonglo Valley. Some $130,000 has been allocated in 2010-11 to investigate the potential for an employment corridor on the eastern side of the ACT through the eastern broadacre study. This work is vital for Canberra’s future. We need to identify land for industrial and related purposes to support the city’s economy into the future.
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