Page 3914 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 2010
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What we are saying is that where there are significant changes happening in a community, people need to have a chance to say, “Yes, this is what we would like.” Or the government needs to try and explain to them: “Well, this is why it is happening, and if you look at it from an overall point of view it has got a lot going for it.” We need to get some more community consensus.
We believe that there are probably ways that these could be done in a somewhat more streamlined fashion. Given that, hopefully, a lot more of them are going to be done, I suspect that there are probably ways that they could be done in a more streamlined fashion. I understand that the government is quoting the sum of $100,000 per study at present. I suspect that, were the government to seriously take on a commitment to doing a number of them, there are ways that this could be made a bit more cost-effective.
We do need sufficient consultation. What we have got at present is the worst of all worlds. We have got a lot of people very upset about what is happening. This level of dissatisfaction will require government resources to address it. Basically, we are saying that you either address it at the beginning or you address it at the end. If you address it at the beginning—it is like preventative medicine: it is cheaper in the long run and it leads to happier patients—it leads to happier people in the ACT, and it leads to better planning.
We want consultation to bring most of the community along with what is happening. We want a long-term view of planning, to have enough time and for people to think a bit outside the box. Take Kambah, for example. If Woolworths wants to expand, what opportunities does this give Kambah? Does this mean that it would work for park and ride? Does this mean we now have the resources to upgrade the—(Time expired.)
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.27): I thank Mr Smyth for bringing on this motion today and Ms Le Couteur for her amendments. Kambah Village has very much become an important focal point for the area. I agree with Mr Smyth that the village is in need of maintenance and repairs, particularly if we are to see an expansion of the Woolworths supermarket and the new housing developments which have been identified. We also have the large combined school which is being constructed there. All those developments will have a significant impact on the area.
The government has recognised, obviously, that there needs to be work done. As mentioned in the Chronicle today, and as the Chief Minister and Mr Barr have outlined today, we have a commitment from the government to do consultation with the shop owners about what should be the priorities for redeveloping Kambah Village and we have already identified some possibilities based on existing issues which have been identified. This is a positive outcome for Kambah Village, and it is welcomed by many sections of the community.
However, as we have discussed today, it would make sense, as part of the process which was outlined today, to look at wider issues which will be impacted by the possible expansion of the major supermarket in Kambah. This will obviously have
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