Page 510 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993
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CANBERRA IN THE YEAR 2020 STUDY
Ministerial Statement and Papers
Debate resumed from 15 November 1992, on motion by Ms Follett:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
MS SZUTY (12.15): Mr Deputy Speaker, I stated at the time the first report of the Canberra in the Year 2020 study was tabled that I felt that it was a positive response to the task given by this Assembly to the Government. I am pleased that the task has been accepted and tackled in such a dynamic way, and I hope that the momentum continues. The wider community has an interest in this topic. The Territory Plan acknowledges this in its foreword, which reads:
Community involvement in the planning process is an established feature of Canberra's development. This should continue and as Canberra matures into a major Australian city, we have the opportunity to go forward together to build a partnership between people, politicians, and planners that gives us the goals that we seek for the city we call home ...
There is an apparent discrepancy between the Territory Planning Authority's assessment of Canberra's maturity and the 2020 vision document having the view that "in the past decade, Canberra has matured as a city". I hope that, as the major centre for public sector planning and policy making and as the nation's capital, Canberra is already a major city.
The ACT Planning Authority has recognised the level of community interest in planning issues and looks forward to a partnership that will set the goals for the city's future. This recognition of community interest is important and should be incorporated into every aspect of the process of developing a vision for Canberra's future. I am pleased that the next report due this afternoon, which includes issues papers, will be able to focus the debate that is needed to arrive at a strategic plan for the future. I am pleased that the community will be given an opportunity to participate in the process, and I look forward to hearing of the composition of the Canberra in the Year 2020 study reference group.
Another positive aspect of this report is the clear outline it presents for the process. I note this because I feel that often the Canberra community sees processes of public consultation as not having clear steps and not having a clear role for members of the community and for community groups. The easy four-step process outlined in this first report into a vision for Canberra is easy to understand and specific in its aims. I congratulate the Government on the clarity of this section of the report. I also feel that the setting of this strategic plan into context by giving a summary of past strategic plans is useful. Canberra has gone through a myriad of changes over the past few years as it has developed from a supported national capital to a self-governing Territory, and it is important to have an historic context in which to make decisions about the future.
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