Page 4280 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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the DA against the Territory Plan, the environmental impact statement and relevant codes and ACTPLA makes its decision. This case has been very different.
What we need to see here is stability, to end years of protracted debate in the community. Many of the community panel members, perhaps the majority, asked about a master plan process for the Red Hill open space area. Whilst in the strictest sense of the definition of a master plan that may not be the best approach or the approach that the government will take, it does not mean that the concept of a more integrated and holistic plan should not take place for this area. We need a holistic approach to developing the Red Hill open space area that takes into account the implication of all or any development in the area, reviews and looks at the existing green space in the area and protects it, if that is what is required. Residents certainly believe that protection of the green space in their area is vital.
We need to consider the best way to protect the Red Hill nature reserve and, most importantly—and this is something that I have spoken about in this Assembly time and again in relation to planning matters—we need an open consultation process with the community, not one that truncates when the government feel they have collected enough information to enable them to move forward. We need something that is transparent and genuinely enables residents to feel that their views and their concerns have been heard.
The government, I am sure, will say that master plans are for group centres and key transport areas only. But it is the concept of a master plan that we are asking for here—whether you want to call it something different to a master plan—the concept of an integrated approach that looks at the entire area, not one DA at a time.
The motion that I have moved today can provide a path forward to give some certainty and transparency to the Red Hill community and for the Federal Golf Club. It is a forward-looking plan for all the Red Hill open space area, a long-term approach with a vision. That is why my motion today is calling on the ACT government to refer the overall planning of the Red Hill open space to the planning and urban renewal committee and to suspend all or any development activity in the Red Hill open space area until the committee report and the government response have been received and made available publicly.
In conclusion, I hope that the ACT government will ensure that any development that may be undertaken at the Federal Golf Club or, indeed, anywhere in that Red Hill open space area is of sound quality, respects the environmental impact of the area, takes into account other built structures in the area and, very, very importantly, consults openly and transparently with community members and ensures that their concerns are heard. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.18): The government will not be supporting Ms Lawder’s motion as it stands. I have circulated an amendment in my name and I move that amendment now:
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