Page 3508 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
We recognise the importance of planning well in advance and the work that was completed as part of the 2004 spatial plan process, which identified, for example, the Molonglo Valley as an area for future greenfields development. That work was done through 2002 and 2003, leading to the release of that policy in 2004. And here we are six years on with much further progression in relation to that greenfields estate. We know that we just need to complete the rollout of suburbs in Gungahlin and we know, of course, that we need to do a lot of intense work on urban infill to achieve our 50 per cent target in terms of future residential settlement opportunities in the next period.
Ms Le Couteur: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
Ms Le Couteur: Ms Hunter’s question specifically asked about the interrelation between TAMS and ACTPLA, which the minister has not yet touched upon.
MR BARR: Mr Speaker, if Ms Le Couteur—
MR SPEAKER: Can you say it again? Perhaps you could repeat it, Mr Barr.
MR BARR: Yes. Ms Le Couteur was not listening, apparently. It is a two-minute answer, and I did go directly to that in the first 15 seconds. Yes, we acknowledge the importance of those agencies working together, but we have one ACT government. In the context of our policy response on this issue, I care not for the individual agency issues; I care about what the ACT government response is, and that means agencies working together. That is a clear and stated desire for the government. We will, of course, be working very closely with portfolio ministers and agencies to ensure that our response to this issue is right.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter, a supplementary.
MS HUNTER: Minister, what impact does the government expect the new provision will have on student accommodation and secondary dwellings?
MR BARR: A positive one, in short. The capacity, through this variation, to enable some greater diversity in housing stock will, indeed, have a positive impact. It is combined with a number of other ACT government initiatives, most particularly the partnership with the federal government and the Australian National University in relation to, initially, student accommodation on the university campus—I know, a topic of some controversy, because it would mean displacing a particular building that has recently become popular.
Nonetheless, in all these policy decisions and dilemmas, there are tradeoffs. If we are serious about improving student accommodation options, then we must take these opportunities in areas where it makes sense to do so. And clearly, this particular
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video