Page 82 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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I must however, at this time, emphasise our commitment to public housing, which in the ACT has traditionally played a very important role in the development of Canberra and in the housing of much of its population. Under this Government, public housing will continue to play such a role. I am very keen to ensure that the substantial development in the areas of public housing arising from talks on the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement is to continue and that the ACT remains at the forefront of public housing delivery in Australia.
In the development of new or expanded housing services there must be consultative arrangements to ensure that residents have a proper input into decisions of this Government.
These - there are other issues - will be covered in the review. Delays in the approval of the building plans and the inspection of work can add to the housing costs and we have an obligation to ensure that the Government's necessary role in the supervision of building is handled efficiently.
The Building Section recently adopted a new procedure to reduce the time taken to approve plans for houses. This was very welcome, but it is also important that delays in inspections be reduced. I have asked that priority be given to a review of inspection procedures, which will be carried out in consultation with the industry.
Conservation of our wonderful parks system is also an important priority of this Government, and we will make sure that urban open space is protected and that the system of national parks and nature reserves in the ACT is enhanced. The policy plans prepared by the NCDC still provide some protection for open space, but these areas also need to be protected through the National Capital Plan and the complementary Territory Plan.
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service will continue to prepare management plans for open space areas in rural and urban parts of the ACT. These will define management objectives, priorities and standards and also outline the proposals for preservation of areas. They will be prepared with extensive community participation.
We will also adopt proposals for the gazettal of additional areas under the Nature Conservation Act. At present, statutory protection under the Nature Conservation Act is provided only to Namadgi National Park. Proposals for four significant new nature reserves in the Murrumbidgee River corridor and at Jerrabomberra wetlands are being finalised following community consultation. The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is also to be re-gazetted under the Act because of its great value to conservation and environment education.
Proposals to reserve parts of Canberra Nature Park will be the subject of extensive community talks later this year as
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