Page 1648 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2016
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A master plan should include a comprehensive and transparent analysis of the future needs in the area for demographic trends; transport, including public transport, traffic and parking; housing; residential amenity and liveability; access for first home owners as well as opportunities to age in place; the need for schools and child care; sports and recreation facilities, not only big events but the needs for the local community; open space and environmental quality; arts and culture; heritage protection; and retail and commercial space. These are the sorts of issues that a master plan would address.
I appreciate that master planning done in full consultation with the community takes time and that the world cannot stand still while master planning takes place. However, given that the Chief Minister has stated that no work would commence at Manuka Oval until after the test cricket match in 2018-19, there is now an opportunity to embark on a more comprehensive planning process between government and the community. I would be pleased to further develop these ideas with members to provide a pathway forward. Given the level of concern that has been raised, it is vital that we involve the community in the process to ensure we achieve the best outcome for the entire ACT community.
I commend to the Assembly my motion today and the ideas contained within it, which seek to provide a positive way forward on this proposal that has been put forward; a way that maximises community engagement and the chance for a good discussion to be had so that this project can be judged on its merits.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (4.49): The Canberra Liberals welcome this discussion about the Manuka green unsolicited proposal. It is good to be chatting about this in the open. I think much of the heightened interest about this proposal has come about due to an actual or perceived idea that too much is happening in the back room rather than in public.
However, it has to be said that the actual proponents have been public with a lot of information about their ideas, primarily via their website. Members of the opposition were briefed on the proposal in February, the week the proposal went live. A huge amount of high quality design and conceptual work had obviously gone into the proposal.
The opposition believes that there is a role for unsolicited proposals in Canberra. There is a need to gather thoughts, ideas and investments that are outside the square. Many governments around the world use unsolicited proposal processes to help foster such ideas. The purpose is to get worthwhile ideas whilst respecting the intellectual property of the owner or proposer of the project.
The government’s framework states:
The ACT Government recognises the valuable ideas and innovations that the private sector can generate and the real and tangible benefits that can flow to the ACT economy. By having a process to manage Unsolicited Proposals, the Government can ensure that value to the community can be delivered from genuinely unique ideas.
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