Page 3055 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 16 September 2015
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are not just what makes Canberra so livable; good design is also good business. Good design is a major driver of what makes our city a uniquely attractive tourism, education and business destination.
I recently met with over 120 community members and stakeholders in developing the statement of planning intent. There was consensus among young and old, industry, research and community groups that the government’s focus on quality design and urban renewal is critical if we are to achieve our desire for a more vibrant city that is prosperous and sustainable.
Urban renewal is also about making the most of opportunity—opportunities that exist by working in close partnership with industry, for example, to deliver greater densification around those centres for community, making them more livable, more accessible, more vibrant and, importantly, viable. Prioritising urban renewal also means we need to maximise the opportunities presented by the significant government investments being made in a truly integrated transport network for our city of which investment in roads and better public transport, including light rail, are key.
The master plan program is a key initiative of the planning portfolio that supports genuine urban renewal opportunities. I am proud to advise that the master plans have been completed for Dickson, Kingston, Kambah, Erindale and Weston group centres, and Pialligo and Oaks Estate rural villages, as well as the Tuggeranong town centre and the city, through the city plan. Master plans are now being prepared for Woden and Belconnen town centres, Mawson, Curtin, Calwell and Kippax group centres and Tharwa Village.
The government’s approach to facilitating planning approvals and cutting red tape is multifaceted. In the building and construction sector, we are reviewing the Building Act and the estate development planning process to make them more relevant and more streamlined. There are many ways that the ACT government is supporting and promoting businesses in the territory through my portfolios and those of my colleagues. We have an ambitious and successful plan for growth and prosperity, and I am proud to be a part of delivering this for all Canberrans.
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (10.59), in reply: “Confident & business ready: building on our strengths” is our new business strategy. Madam Deputy Speaker, I spent 16 years in this town in small business, owning and operating my own dental practice here in Canberra. I know that Canberra’s small businesses will be heartened by this policy and the outcomes that I have already talked about, along with the Chief Minister and Mr Gentleman, following the ferocious federal Liberal government cuts that have been inflicted upon us. I hear Mr Smyth cackling at that; maybe he wants more. Maybe he is calling for more cuts because, truly, the Liberal Party, the Canberra Liberals, have forgotten about small business, the shopkeepers and the professionals who were at the core of their beginning.
What did we hear from the Canberra Liberal representative, Mr Smyth, in his diatribe this morning? Mr Smyth wants to highlight the success of our public institutions but does not want to credit the support provided by this government to them. He fails to acknowledge our red tape reduction but seems to want more red tape with bans on
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