Page 1713 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 1 May 2012
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development will need to achieve a reduction in mains water, provide onsite stormwater detention, reduce stormwater pollutant export loads and ensure that the capacity of the existing overland—major—stormwater system to the site is not exceeded in the one-in-100-year storm event.
I am confident that the standing committee’s recommendation in relation to flooding can be achieved through the development application process and its assessment against the existing provisions in the territory plan.
The committee’s third recommendation was that the precinct code provisions should apply whether or not the site is rezoned. As I have approved variation 307, the precinct code will be introduced as a part of the variation unless it is disallowed by this place. The variation is anticipated to commence before the end of May.
However, if variation 307 does not commence then I would find it extremely difficult to impose the same conditions on any future development of the site. This is because the means by which those conditions could be imposed is through this variation. If it does not proceed then the only option would be to prepare a new territory plan variation subject to the same statutory requirements as variation 307.
As I have already mentioned, there was some confusion in the public submissions about the leasing arrangements for the site. It is therefore understandable that the last three recommendations of the committee’s report related to the administrative processes for leasing. The government accepts those recommendations in full.
Information available to the public will be reviewed. I trust that this will help to assist the community in its understanding of the ACT’s planning and leasehold system. The full government response to the committee’s recommendations and the detail of our response can be viewed in the documents that I have tabled today.
Variation 307 promotes redevelopment of the site for medium density residential development. It is an appropriate site for this use. Variation 307 is consistent with the Canberra spatial plan, the draft ACT planning strategy and the statement of strategic directions of the territory plan. The site will increase housing in a location that is close to commercial and employment centres at Manuka, Kingston, Barton, Parkes and Civic. The rezoning will increase housing stock and choice in the area without directly affecting the existing single dwelling housing in the precinct.
Even with recent developments in Kingston foreshore and other multi-unit projects in the inner south over the last decade or so, population levels in south Canberra are still below those of the early 1960s. The population levels will need to continue to recover as we provide more opportunities for more people to live in this central and accessible location.
The site is well proportioned and is of sufficient size to accommodate medium density residential redevelopment. The site is separated from surrounding low density residential areas by Austin Street and surrounding open space areas. This is a site that is far more appropriately zoned for residential purposes than for commercial uses and the government believes that this is another reason why this variation should proceed.
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