Page 4794 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND PLANNING
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 1106
Medium and High Density Housing Limits
Mr Cornwell - asked the Minister for the Environment, Land and
Planning -
In relation to urban infill in the ACT - Have limits been placed upon the percentage of suburbs or regions which can be developed as medium or high density housing; if so, what are there percentages by suburb or region; if not, why not.
Mr Wood - the answer to the Members question is as follows:
The direct answer is no. The reasons why require an understanding of the needs and processes of urban development and change, and of how the new Territory Plan has been designed to meet those requirements.
The new Territory Plan makes provision for a full range of housing types in all residential areas across Canberra, subject to a two storey height limit. It also introduces new performance based design and siting policies aimed at protecting amenity and ensuring an appropriates tandard of development.
In line with national trends and the changing demographic characteristics and housing preferences of the community, it is likely that an increasing proportion of all new or redeveloped dwellings will be in various forms of medium density housing (townhouses, villas, etc). Opportunities for higher density housing (that is housing in buildings higher than two storeys but generally limited to three storeys) however are effectively limited to a relatively few locations under the Territory Plan (eg Kingston and the so-called B1 areas in North Canberra).
The underlying objective is to facilitate the provision of a range of housing to meet the diverse needs of the whole of the community whilst protecting residential amenity and making efficient use of public infrastructure. It is not regarded as desirable to set prescriptive quantum limits on specific housing types in suburbs or regions as these are likely to be seen as targets and imply tacit support for any proposal which fell within the limits. Proposals will be assessed on their merits taking into account all relevant matters for consideration under the Plan. In all cases involving redevelopment which would increase the dwelling density on the land, there will be a requirement for public notification of the proposal and an opportunity for third party appeal.
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