Page 558 - Week 02 - Thursday, 17 February 2005
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We believe that, quite appropriately, where blocks of urban open space can have a higher use for the betterment of the community, they should be used. But we need to point out the glaring hypocrisy of the minister in the way that he has gone about this matter and his lack of action. Fundamentally, it comes down to Mr Corbell. It is a shame that he has not been here all week but, given the way the health and planning systems have been brought to task this week, I guess I would have been away as well if I had wanted to avoid the attacks that he is so rightly suffering.
In the debate on draft variation 243, Mr Hargreaves talked about inappropriate proposals that have been put forward.
Mr Hargreaves: Is he reflecting on a debate, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: I was just churning through my head which standing order you have offended, Mr Smyth. I have discovered one. You are reflecting on a vote, because the Assembly gave leave to that member to be away. I would ask you not to reflect on that.
MR SMYTH: I withdraw. I would hate to reflect on any vote of the Assembly, Mr Speaker. Like Mr Seselja, I would ask Mr Hargreaves to nominate what were the silly proposals for aged care developments. I can think of at least another two proposals in the Tuggeranong Valley. The Valley Vikings wanted to put an aged care facility next to their club in the town centre. That was just too hard. I know that the Christian City Church has identified a block of land in Monash on which it wants to build a church and aged care facility. I know of the discussions because the church approached me towards the end of the last government about gaining access to that land and we started the process, but three and a bit years later it still cannot even get the go ahead on, firstly, whether it can have the land and, secondly, what the value of that land might be.
So, despite all the protestations from Mr Hargreaves that his government has fixed the system, again it is just a chimera. It is the image of action, but we still have a system for the allocation of land for aged care facilities that is fundamentally too slow and does not meet the needs of the community and that is, of course, the product of the reforms of this government.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Report 3
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.23): I present the following report:
Planning and Environment—Standing Committee—Report 3—Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No 209—East O'Malley—Extension of Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve, dated 28 January 2005, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be noted.
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