Page 1002 - Week 03 - Thursday, 23 March 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Sit down, please, minister. Members of the opposition, you are within a hair’s breadth of being warned, and I am very disappointed that it is Thursday and not Tuesday and that it is late in the afternoon for that warning to come. We will continue with question time without interjection. That, in short, means that if there were more hours in the day I would probably warn one of you.
Mrs Jones: Just a question of clarification, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: What is that, Mrs Jones?
Mrs Jones: I am very happy to follow your ruling; I just would like to understand if you actually require absolute silence.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, the standing order says “no interjections”. How about we just abide by standing orders for the afternoon? That would be a nice surprise. The Minister for Planning and Land Management.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank Mr Pettersson for his questions. I think it is an exciting time for Woden as we move forward in renewing the area. Earlier this month I was pleased to announce the start of community consultation on two important draft Territory Plan variations. The two draft variations to the Territory Plan implement the recommendations of master plans for Woden and Mawson centres. The proposed changes will guide development and encourage renewal within the Woden town centre and the Mawson group centre.
The variations build on extensive community consultation with residents and businesses on the draft master plan so both centres could become better places for residents and more attractive to employers and employees. These proposed changes to the Territory Plan will implement the planning elements of the master plans. They will clarify the rules around building heights and open the way for new investment proposals to come forward. The variations make zone changes and update the precinct codes to encourage development. Among other things, the zone changes will allow more residences to be built, including medium and high-density housing that gives residents more housing choice and will meet the needs of older people. (Time expired.)
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, can you provide further detail on the Territory Plan changes that are proposed and outline the benefits to the community?
MR GENTLEMAN: As I was outlining, there are many benefits to the community from the proposed changes. In summary, the master plan and draft plan variations aim to implement planning changes that will boost livability, drive urban renewal and improve the centre’s viability in years to come.
There are several changes proposed in both the Woden and Mawson centres, and I am happy to provide the following summary on some of the key changes: at the Woden
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video