Page 1043 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 2013
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the physical size of shops and supermarkets, their gross floor area, in local centres. In regard to floor areas generally across commercial zones, draft variation 304 proposes to introduce a 1,500 square metre maximum on the gross floor area. In addition it is proposed that there is a restriction in relation to local centres and mixed use zones where the net selling area of shops selling food—and this includes supermarkets—is limited to 1,000 square metres. Under this provision there is a new definition of net selling area which means that part of the gross floor area of a shop that is used for the display and sale of goods and is ordinarily accessible to the public is limited to 1,000 square metres. This provision applies only to local centres, those which are zoned CZ4, and mixed use zones, CZ5.
It is important to emphasise that this proposal is not a limitation or control on ownership but a control on size in local centres. It is not the role of the planning system to seek to limit ownership. It is the role of the planning system to indicate where and to what scale uses occur. This is the proposal currently in draft variation 304.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR CORBELL: I am disappointed that those opposite seem to be critical of this proposal. This is a proposal which has been sought by small supermarket operators right across the city. It is a proposal that they have actively lobbied the government on and it is a proposal that Labor made an election commitment on prior to the last election. It is a proposal that we are now implementing.
Mr Hanson: You’re lying. You are lying.
MR CORBELL: I ask Mr Hanson to withdraw his comment.
Dr Bourke: A point of order.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Dr Bourke. Stop the clock.
Dr Bourke: The opposition leader has been using unparliamentary language to describe Mr Corbell. I ask that he withdraw it.
Mr Hanson: I withdraw.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Mr Corbell.
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Madam Acting Speaker. It is a commitment that the government made before the last election and it is a commitment that we are honouring. We are implementing the commitment because we recognise that protecting small-scale supermarket retailing in local centres is in the public interest. The fact is that local shops are for local supermarkets. This provision ensures that there is clear policy guidance on those questions.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Supplementary, Ms Berry.
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