Page 458 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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PLANNING AND HERITAGE - DRAFT LEGISLATION
Ministerial Statement and Papers
MR KAINE (Chief Minister), by leave: It gives me great pleasure to table today the draft Planning Bill 1990, the draft Heritage Bill 1990 and an explanatory statement concerning these Bills. In tabling these Bills, I note with concern that neither the Leader nor the Deputy Leader of the Opposition are in the House. I thought they were greatly interested in this matter. I can only assume that they consider that their commitment to get other people elected to Federal Parliament takes precedence over their commitment to being in this house dealing with the business of this house.
Together, these Bills comprise a major part of the Government's land planning legislation package. In developing this comprehensive package, the challenge has been to establish a system which provides for the planning and economic development of Canberra, which addresses the needs of the community and which protects our environment and heritage. I am confident that our planning and land use system will meet this challenge and will be efficient, accessible and responsive.
The tabling of these Bills today, together with the announcements I am about to make on other matters, gives effect to our commitment, as stated in our policy on land planning and development and leasehold management, to table land planning legislation before the end of February 1990.
The key objectives of our land planning system are as follows: To emphasise opportunities for community involvement in the planning process; to establish certain consistent procedures; to provide appropriate avenues for appeals and challenges; to achieve a balance between economic growth, community expectations and environmental concerns; and to ensure that this Assembly is the ultimate decision making authority with regard to planning principles.
I now turn to the main provisions of each draft Bill. The Planning Bill establishes an ACT Planning Authority and sets down procedures for the making of the Territory plan. This gives effect to provisions in the ACT (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, which require the ACT Government to establish, by legislation, a Territory Planning Authority with responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of a Territory plan.
In keeping with the ACT (Planning and Land Management) Act, the object of the Territory plan is to ensure that the planning and development of the Territory provides the people of the Territory with an attractive, safe and efficient environment in which to live, work and have their recreation. I should point out that while the Territory plan must not be inconsistent with the National Capital Plan, its objects and purpose are quite distinct and different from the National Capital Plan which focuses on the national significance of Canberra. As such, my Government is strongly resisting attempts by the National Capital
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