Page 3326 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 18 September 2013
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that other people would have to pay for that. It was this government that took the decision to do that—to support the ongoing viability of the village and the amenity the people of Uriarra enjoy out there. It is this government that has done it.
But on the matter of process for a potential development to be built out near Uriarra, we, who are not the proponents, believe that the planning process, as established by the Assembly, needs to be followed. That planning process allows for all the concerns that Uriarra residents and you have made to the government. It is through that independent channel, not through political interference, that this matter should be determined. If changes are to be made, if proposals are not to go ahead or if the development does not proceed, it is up to the independent planning authority to take that decision.
Just yesterday we saw an example of an independent planning decision working and responding to community feedback. That was the development at Belconnen. Resident feedback was that they did not like the scale of the development that was being proposed. That developer has come back with a revised development proposal for that site. That was specifically in relation to residents’ concerns. It showed again that the independent planning authority and the decision-making process that has been endorsed by this Assembly work.
It might not be the answer that Uriarra residents are wanting to hear today, but it sets an independent process, a fair process—a process where Uriarra residents can air their concerns; where other residents of Canberra who may support solar farms can raise their concerns; where the proponents can have their concerns listened to; and even where the leaseholder, the landowner out there, can have their concerns listened to. Then it is over to the independent planning authority to take that decision.
The use of the call-in power is a separate matter. I do not think anyone is in a position to determine whether or not it should be used when a development application and a process have not even begun. It is ridiculous for the Assembly and the Liberal Party to be sending a message to all of the people who might be considering development in this town that, should the Liberal Party not like it, they will be seeking to extinguish development proposals prior to them even being lodged with the independent planning authority. That is the message that you are sending out today. Uriarra residents, we hear you, we understand the concerns you have raised, but—
Mr Hanson: And you are going to ignore them.
MS GALLAGHER: I am not ignoring them. The fact that we are having this debate today clearly demonstrates that no-one is ignoring anything. But there is a difference of opinion between you, who want to extinguish a proposal now—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe!
MS GALLAGHER: and us, who want to allow the process to continue, an independent process.
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