Page 1483 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


City Renewal Authority will work closely with the National Capital Authority and the ACT Planning and Land Authority, which will retain responsibility for approving development applications throughout the territory.

The Suburban Land Agency will deliver new greenfield residential estates and non-precinct urban renewal projects. The new agency, under the governance of a new board, will deliver land releases, affordable housing and better suburbs. The Suburban Land Agency will have as its driving force the aims of promoting inclusive communities, affordable living, a safe and healthy population, urban renewal outside of urban precincts, and the growth and diversification of the territory’s economy.

The agency will be able to buy and sell leases of land to carry out developments. One of its key objectives will be to increase the supply of affordable housing. It must ensure a mixture of public and private housing in new suburbs. The agency will have strong governance structures as its bedrock and will at all times be answerable to the minister.

Cohesive development and active engagement are built into this bill. The Suburban Land Agency must work with any entity that has an interest in land that the agency intends to buy, sell, improve or develop. Similarly, the City Renewal Authority must work with any entity that has an interest in land in an urban renewal precinct.

The bill establishes two new development entities characterised by strong governance and community focus. As Canberra’s population grows, it is critical that our urban renewal and suburban development projects are managed effectively, with development revolving and evolving around the growth of a connected, sustainable, affordable and healthy city. With this in mind, I commend this bill to the Assembly.

MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee) (4.37): Today I would like to outline my support for the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Bill. This bill brings forward a new and improved focus for land development in Canberra. The bill outlines this government’s commitment to improved governance and delivery for residential, commercial and industrial development, and provides for a clearer vision for Canberra’s future.

The legislation introduced by the Chief Minister seeks to deliver reform through the establishment of two new agencies, the City Renewal Authority and the Suburban Land Agency. The creation of these new agencies marks an important milestone for the development of our city and I am pleased to support it today in the Assembly.

Through the proposed establishment of the new agencies, land development will undergo significant reform in a number of ways. The legislation will provide for clearer roles and responsibilities for our land agency bodies. It will broaden and create new opportunities within the community for consultation, engagement and cooperation, and it will deliver a more robust level of governance to land development. These important reforms will renew and build our city’s future.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video