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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 1079 ..


Proposed policies for residential development and proposed Code of Residential Development

MR CORBELL (7.54): I move:

That this Assembly directs the ACT Government to not proceed with the release of the Proposed Policies for Residential Development in the ACT and the proposed ACT Code of Residential Development as a Draft Variation to the Territory Plan until:

(a) further public consultation is undertaken on details of the proposed policies and code;

(b) a Community Advisory Panel is established comprising resident, community, professional and business representatives to review and report on the proposed policies and code;

(c) proposed appointments to the Community Advisory Panel are referred for the comment of the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services;

(d) the Community Advisory Panel has presented its report to the Government;

(e) the Government has responded to the Community Advisory Panels report and tabled its response in the Legislative Assembly;

(f) the Government has provided further information to the Legislative Assembly on how the proposed policies and code will be implemented if the proposed policies and code are released as a Draft Variation to the Territory Plan and have 'interim effect'.

Mr Speaker, the government's proposal to release a draft variation to the Territory Plan to introduce a new code and policies for residential development will see the most significant draft variation to the Territory Plan since the introduction of the plan take effect from tomorrow. From tomorrow policies relating to plot ratio guidelines for multiunit redevelopment, including dual occupancy development, which propose a blanket plot ratio of 35 per cent for any block across Canberra will have legal effect. This proposed plot ratio will not include external hard surfaces such as driveways, footpaths, garages, tennis courts or swimming pools. In reality, the 35 per cent plot ratio control for multiunit and dual occupancy development will permit up to 50 per cent of the block to be covered in non-permeable surfaces.

From tomorrow single dwelling development will be exempted from the 35 per cent blanket plot ratio, and the new code will permit single dwellings to cover an unspecified percentage of the block. From tomorrow only a minimum of six metres of private open space will be required for dual occupancy and multiunit development. From tomorrow there will be no specific protection for suburbs of territorial significance identified by the Labor government in 1994. These are suburbs like Griffith, Yarralumla, Turner, O'Connor, Forrest, Narrabundah and Red Hill. From tomorrow the new code will permit development proponents to provide effective groundwater implementation of stormwater and other sustainability measures only where they say it is practicable. It is not mandatory.

Of even more significant concern is the provision for a section master planning process. From tomorrow, if this draft variation is given effect to, a development proponent will be able to produce a section master plan for any multiunit or dual occupancy proposal in


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