Page 3415 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 18 September 2013
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will be similar in nature to smaller englobo offerings that have the advantage of being contained within an approved planned estate, and super lots may provide a product that may suit smaller developers.
Discussions between the LDA, the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association have been positive, and both industry bodies will work with the LDA on developing super lot products in Denman Prospect. With the LDA managing the development of the suburb, it is able to work directly with local builders to create opportunities for a variety of lot sizes to suit a wide range of local builders. In addition to super lots, the LDA will continue to provide serviced blocks available to purchasers other than builders.
The LDA is working closely with ESDD and TAMS on the implementation of the changes required by variation 306 in all new estates, including Denman Prospect and the broader Molonglo valley. Solar access requirements have considerable advantages for residents. They ensure new homes receive sunlight without being overshadowed by neighbours. This has a range of benefits, including more viable and sustainable solar passive housing designs as well as improved amenity for residents.
The LDA has trialled solar access principles in Wright and Coombs prior to their formal implementation in the territory plan. A home sustainability adviser was on hand in these suburbs to provide advice to residents about building sustainable homes. Residents in these estates have given positive feedback and appreciate that they can build a solar passive house without worrying about being overshadowed by neighbours to the north.
Building on the lessons learned in these estates, the LDA is preparing a working document to assist with the implementation of solar access requirements in the design of new estates. Titled “Block Design: a guide to solar access”—a very clear description—this document will provide additional certainty to buyers and to builders about what types of dwellings particular blocks can accommodate. It will enable a greater level of standardisation and increase efficiency and affordability. Industry consultation on this document has had positive feedback, and suggestions and comments from the consultation process have been incorporated.
Further, through the work undertaken so far with the building industry and the community, the LDA is assisting the market to take advantage of the flexibility offered in variation 306 through integrated developments. In an integrated development groups of houses are designed in a coordinated way rather than focusing on individual houses.
In closing, Denman Prospect will be an integrated development that will closely involve the local construction sector and provide high quality housing options for Canberrans. I commend Mr Corbell’s amendment to the Assembly, noting that the issues contained within that amendment have been canvassed extensively. It is certainly worth noting that the government’s agenda through both the city to the lake project and the city plan work is to ensure a more vibrant and more active city centre, and the ESD and ED directorates are working closely together to achieve this vision.
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