Page 4166 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 24 October 2018
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City Renewal Authority—targets
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Chief Minister as the minister responsible for the oversight of the City Renewal Authority. At a recent presentation I attended, the authority outlined its stretch targets for the city, which included a 30 per cent tree canopy cover, eight star NatHERS energy ratings, 90-plus walkability score and low carbon precinct design. How is the authority going to deliver on these wonderful ambitions?
MR BARR: Through hard work and resources over the coming years.
MS LE COUTEUR: Will this require changes to other government agencies’ requirements, like the Territory Plan or the TCCS design standards, to help them achieve the authority’s excellent goals, and will these goals be spread out for the rest of Canberra?
MR BARR: There may be a requirement for some further changes in relation to, for example, the Territory Plan. Clearly there are some areas within the City Renewal Authority’s precinct that also have federal requirements as in they are designated land and the National Capital Authority would also be an interested partner and regulator in relation to certain activity.
The broader question of extension of those goals to the rest of the city will need to be considered in the context of further stages of the ACT’s broader policy objectives in relation to carbon neutrality, for example, both in government operations and more broadly for the city.
MS CODY: Chief Minister, what early work has the City Renewal Authority done to improve amenity in the city?
MR BARR: I think members would be aware of a number of precincts within the vicinity of this building that have recently been upgraded. Some work is already underway in relation to projects that have been a long time coming and have been somewhat fraught in relation to being able to coordinate public sector and private interests. An example of that is the works around the Sydney and Melbourne buildings, buildings of historical significance to this city. The challenges there are: multiple owners; considerable market failure, free riding, if you like; no-one with a particular interest in undertaking work outside of their own particular precinct. In this context—
Mr Coe: It is called public land.
MR BARR: This relates to the private lease areas within the building. There is public land that is already being improved; it had already been improved. There are private areas that, because of the nature of those buildings, required significant coordination, cooperation and agreement. We are seeing progress in relation to those areas as it relates to the laneways as well as to the precinct around Northbourne Avenue.
Opposition members interjecting—
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