Page 3454 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 23 September 2015
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Industry Association, the Master Builders Association, and community council representatives. These groups will have the opportunity to test the proposed updates and make suggestions for changes prior to the changes being released for formal consultation. Following the finalisation of the pre-consultation process, a draft variation to the Territory Plan will be prepared and released for formal public consultation in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2007.
As the Assembly will note from the issues I have raised in regards to estate design, residential development and solar access provisions, addressing the issue is not as simple as by Mr Coe in his motion. We do not intend to make changes that result in a backward step and poor outcomes. Mr Coe’s suggestion for a simple building envelope would not allow for differences between block sizes and slope to be taken into consideration. This was acknowledged by the industry and community subgroup that considered these issues.
Likewise, a suggestion to significantly increase the solar fence will result in poorer design outcome and create more overshadowing to neighbourhood blocks than exists now or, indeed, existed prior to variation 306. This is particularly the case on larger blocks prior to variation 306. A common objection to development applications for new dwellings and single dwelling and multiunit redevelopment was overshadowing of neighbourhood blocks. If the solar envelope is raised significantly higher, as recommended by Mr Coe, the potential for overshadowing of neighbourhood blocks will increase and make the situation worse for neighbours than it was prior to variation 306.
The ACT government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of homes and, by doing so, minimising energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Houses that integrate sound environmental design—such as proper insulation, northerly orientation, and shadowing of windows and walls in summer—are more likely to achieve this target.
Energy efficient options are cost effective to implement at the design and construction stage yet offer significant long-term benefits both to the home owner and to the environment. The solar access provisions were amended in the territory plan through variation 306 to help support these principles. Community and industry representatives have been keen to work with the government and EPD to ensure these provisions achieve all they intend to achieve without any unintended adverse outcomes. While I believe the current solar provisions are sound, the amendments to the provisions being developed by EPD will enable the solar provisions to even better achieve that goal. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (5.26): I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter today. This is an important issue. The Greens fully support the principle of securing solar access for each block and we encourage home owners, architects and builders to utilise this in the design and construction of their houses. Indeed, it was part of the previous Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement of 2008 to mandate passive solar orientation for all new residential homes and subdivisions and to legislate for improved solar access rights. These were incorporated into the agreement as climate change and rising energy costs are such important issues for the community.
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