Page 797 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 April 1994

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MS SZUTY (3.16): The deputy chair of the Planning Committee has outlined fairly fully the process of consideration of the Bocce Club variation by the Planning Committee. There are a few comments I wish to make on this draft variation. The committee came up with a number of recommendations to deal with the variation, which is quite small in nature but which did create, I think it would be fair to say, a degree of controversy within the local community. The committee therefore gave it fairly full consideration.

We recommended that the maximum number of residential units to be constructed on the site be 62 and that a full landscape master plan and subdivision plan be developed for the site; that this plan be made publicly available to local residents and community organisations, with a copy to be provided to the Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Infrastructure for information. It is not the first time we have requested that plans of this sort be referred to the Planning Committee for information following further development of those plans.

We have also insisted that the planting of mature trees be a feature of the landscaping of the site. When we come later today to the guidelines for the B1 area along Northbourne Avenue, we will also have something to say about the planting of mature trees to develop a luxuriant landscape. Mr De Domenico also outlined a number of matters that will be taken on board, to do with the variation for this part of Kaleen. They are outlined in the report; they are quite extensive and have to do with proposed works to protect from floodwaters and various other matters.

I would like to add that the committee notes that the present land use of the site proposed for development is shown as restricted access recreation on the Territory Plan. While noting the concern of some local residents that the area should remain as green space, the committee was advised by the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning that the area is not suitable for active recreational uses, such as those associated with an oval, due to its small size and gradient.

Mr De Domenico has outlined our consideration of the betterment issue, and I will conclude with a couple of further comments. The committee was very conscious of the run-down state of the existing club area and does not wish this situation to continue. We have commented on it expressly in our report. Accordingly, the committee recommends that the Government require the present leaseholder to show a commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of the area to an appropriate standard and for this to occur in a timely fashion. To the same end, the committee recommends that the Government ensure that the Bocce Club develops its site for the proposed additional sporting facilities in the way it has outlined.

Finally, Madam Speaker, the committee indicates that it would be unlikely to recommend that the Government approve any further land use variation for this site, given the extensive residential development about to take place.


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