Page 1277 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 23 August 1989
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The planning proposals must provide opportunities for public consultation. Opportunities will be included in the statutory provisions for making and varying the statutory plan in the environmental impact statement procedures and in the scope for appointment of inquiries. The aim, Mr Speaker, is to provide a system that works, that provides a range of opportunities to comment, but which reduces the amount of disputation and formal appeals. It must be a system acceptable to the Government and to the community.
Until a new planning system is in place, the Government will ensure as a matter of priority that the existing system works ethically and efficiently. Above all, we must not impede the orderly development of the Territory. I am aware, Mr Speaker, that this will involve a heavy workload for the Interim Territory Planning Authority, but the development of the new system is a priority. All will eventually win from such a new system.
Additionally, and as part of our commitment to the broadest possible community consultation, we will be consulting closely with the private sector to assist in management of proposed investments so that new projects are brought forward to maintain current activity levels.
We are confident that this process of working cooperatively with the private sector will maintain investor confidence and ensure that we keep the construction industry and the overall economy at acceptable levels of activity. As a community, we need to ensure that properly made decisions and the processes of public consultation result in the orderly and planned development of the city and town centres and the continued economic health of the Territory.
In conclusion, I repeat that the Government is looking at means to expedite the resolution of the current appeal. As I have explained, we will also be working with private sector investors on sites not affected by Mr Justice Kelly's decision. We will be encouraging these developers to bring forward their approved projects to take up any slack in the industry. This will ensure that the effects on employment and the overall economy are kept to a minimum. We have also instructed that more work be done on further options for the ACT construction industry to ensure that adequate employment levels are maintained.
MRS NOLAN (5.12): It is a widely accepted fact that the future success of the ACT economy depends on the private sector. It depends on the diversification and improved performance of that sector. I am pleased to hear the Chief Minister make that commitment again today. Building and construction, Mr Speaker, are vital components of the private sector. They are components of the private sector that must be encouraged at every available opportunity. This is especially so given the downturn that building and construction now face in Canberra. Yet Canberra developers and our economy as a whole have suffered a dramatic setback
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