Page 63 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
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PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE -
STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Draft Variation to the Territory Plan - Watson
MR LAMONT (8.45): I present report No. 20 of the Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Infrastructure on the draft variation to the Territory Plan, Watson, sections 61 to 64, 72, 74, 76, 79, 80 and 83, North Watson, together with a copy of the extracts of the minutes of proceedings. This report was provided to the Speaker for circulation on Friday, 18 February 1994, pursuant to the resolution of appointment. I move:
That the report be noted.
I have much pleasure again this evening in presenting to this Assembly a unanimous report on the variation known as the North Watson variation. Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this stage that I outline some of the activities by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee and place in context the basis upon which we have dealt with this variation.
The Minister referred the matter to us on 19 August 1993. The committee met on 20 August and decided to call for public comment by the placement of advertisements in the appropriate newspapers. That was done. The committee also resolved to hold public hearings on the draft variation. On Friday, 27 August 1993, the committee inspected the North Watson site and was briefed by the ACT Chief Planner and officers of the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning. A further inspection was carried out on 24 September 1993, this time at Majura Primary School. The committee is grateful, I might add, Madam Speaker, to the staff of Majura Primary School for facilitating this inspection at short notice. At its meeting on 24 September 1993 the committee resolved to seek public briefings on the North Canberra area strategy by officials of the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning, the ACT Housing Trust and the ACT Electricity and Water Authority. The committee expresses its appreciation to the relevant Ministers for facilitating the appearance of these officials.
Madam Speaker, the committee held four public hearings - on Friday, 15 October; Friday, 22 October; Friday, 12 November; and Wednesday, 1 December 1993. At its first hearing the committee examined the North Canberra area strategy and commenced hearing evidence from the Watson Community Association. The second hearing continued to take evidence from the Watson Community Association, and heard also from a member of the public and the Conservation Council of the South-East Region and Canberra. At the third public hearing the Watson Community Association responded to questions from the committee, and the ACT Chief Planner and officials of DELP responded to matters raised during the public hearings. Again, at the fourth public hearing, Madam Speaker, the planners responded to questions from members. Madam Speaker, I wish to place on public record my eternal gratefulness for the work which has been carried out by, again, community organisations such as the Watson Community Association, and in particular the North Watson Subcommittee of the Watson Community Association. At the end of the report, on pages 48 and 49, is a list of the people who appeared before us, and on pages 50, 51 and 52 is a list of the submissions which were received by the committee.
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