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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 2 Hansard (11 March) . . Page.. 609 ..

MR SMYTH

also included further discussion of the range of possible infrastructure and servicing standards available for rural residential development and further sensitive analysis in the financial areas. The study was extended to reflect that and is highlighted by the executive director of Planning and Land Management in the report's foreword. This, therefore, was an independent consultant's report about where rural residential development might proceed, not about whether or not it should proceed.

Mr Speaker, I have total confidence in this report and the high level of professionalism that the consultants brought to the study and to its preparation. It is a discussion paper. It is meant to raise issues. It is meant to look at things such as planning issues, environmental issues, bushfire management, landscape issues, heritage and cultural values, and servicing and access issues, and I believe that it addresses those adequately. Mr Speaker, the report provides an assessment of the issues for the Territory, given that it was a stage 1 report. Further development of detailed planning policies and environmental guidelines will occur for any site selected to become a second stage study.

Mr Speaker, I have to make the point that the preparation of this report is being done and was deliberately amended to reflect the decision of this Assembly. In other words, this Assembly has already spoken on the matter and the Government is responding. I gather from events in the Assembly yesterday that the position of support for rural residential development has not changed. Mr Speaker, the study proceeded under standard working relationships between the consultants and their client. Indeed, the report was put together in the standard way that such things are done, through consultation between the consultant and their client, who was, of course, the department. The public servants that were managing the project in PALM ensured that the report addressed the terms of reference and the Assembly's position. That is their proper role. This they clearly did.

Mr Speaker, I then made a ministerial statement to the Assembly announcing the release of the discussion paper for community consultation and made it clear to this Assembly that the study was undertaken in the context of the Assembly's resolution of 28 May 1998 supporting the Government's commitment to rural residential development in the ACT. As I have said, the study investigated the suitability of a range of sites for rural residential development in a comprehensive way which addresses those issues - issues of planning, issues of the environment, bushfire management, and landscape, heritage and cultural issues, as well as the issues of servicing the blocks. Based on this assessment, the study recommended three potential sites for further detailed assessment. It also included a broad-brush analysis of the benefits and disbenefits of this form of development in terms of providing new housing and investment opportunities, the financial implications for the Territory and environmental management issues, and how these factors vary with different location choices. The study was prepared as a discussion paper for community comment, as was the Government's stated position.

Mr Speaker, the discussion paper was released for consultation on 29 October 1998 for an initial six-week period. That was extended to 8 January, due to a large amount of community interest in this issue. PALM officers held several meetings with key stakeholders throughout the consultation process, to provide opportunities for informed discussion. Some 31 submissions were received from individuals, interest groups, neighbouring New South Wales councils and government agencies. The issues raised in

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