Page 3188 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019
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compact and efficient city that balances the needs of the environment, our heritage and our culture. This budget will also allow us to increase our efficiencies, while still meeting our obligations to all Canberrans.
The government is committed to a more compact and efficient city that reduces the impact on our environment and climate. To reach this goal we will review the ACT planning system, including the Territory Plan, to align with best practice and the 2018 planning strategy. As part of this, $350,000 has been allocated to start development of planning and design directions for the city to Woden light rail corridor. Through transparent planning decisions and even better engagement we aim to build the trust and confidence of the entire community.
The national capital design review panel will help us improve building designs. We will provide $3.7 million to speed up the development approval process, cutting red tape. A new model for the assessment and determination of development applications will greatly improve processing times.
A city built around the principles of people-centred planning also needs to be in harmony with its natural environment to make sure that Canberrans can enjoy nature. The Ingledene forest project is just one example of how we are achieving this. We have allocated $1.7 million to transform the forest into an outdoor recreation hub with half-a-million pine trees and thousands of native yellow box, red gum and apple box trees.
Before I conclude I draw on the remarks that the chair of the estimates report made when presenting the committee’s report. The chair’s remarks once again showed that the Canberra Liberals will not stand up to the commonwealth government. They will not advocate for the rights of Canberrans or the interests of the city. In my own portfolio we have had to fund grants to catchment groups because of the cuts made by the federal Liberal government. This has had an impact on our bush capital and forced the ACT government to step up. It is both right and reasonable that the budget demonstrate the adverse impacts that the federal government is having on our city.
Canberrans want a vibrant, inclusive city that works for all of us and protects our bush capital. To achieve this we need sustainable economic management. This is exactly what this Chief Minister has done. Our government has shown that you can have a strong economy, protect the environment and provide the services that Canberrans need and want. In contrast, the Canberra Liberals will not stand up for our city. They will favour their Liberal mates, while cutting services and threatening the bush capital.
In conclusion, I thank the hardworking staff within EPSDD. They do a great job to protect and enhance our bush capital. I am excited by the initiatives that the directorate will deliver over the next year to help us leave our wonderful city in great shape for future generations.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
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