Page 1725 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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location within inner urban Canberra, its proximity to employment and to major transport routes, and, of course, the ecologically significant Jerrabomberra wetlands. It is also an area with a strong sense of history and connection to Canberra’s past.
The government believes that the East Lake precinct provides many opportunities for innovation. We have backed up this belief with funding in this year’s budget. This funding will establish a partnership with the CSIRO to make East Lake a national example of sustainable urban development. The planning and land authority, the office of sustainability and the CSIRO are currently formalising this partnership. As a national leader in sustainability and innovation, the CSIRO will contribute to the achievement of the government’s overall vision of a sustainable national capital.
The East Lake project will embrace social, economic and environmental sustainability principles, techniques and practices. It will make use of national and local expertise to realise a showcase sustainability project. The project will improve our understandings about sustainable development in the ACT. However, its impact will be much wider than that. The knowledge generated through this project will be applied across the country. It will lead to new technologies and techniques being applied to other such precincts not only in the ACT but elsewhere in the country. I believe it will set new standards for integrating our urban environment with our natural environment.
ACTPLA has completed a number of studies to prepare for the development of the East Lake precinct. These studies confirm that there is considerable potential for increased residential and mixed use development. The East Lake draft planning report will be released for public consultation in the coming months. The report represents a summary of the site investigations and studies carried out to date.
The report identifies a number of key planning issues. These include the future of rail infrastructure, the protection and enhancement of the Jerrabomberra wetlands, and the potential impacts on the residents and businesses of the Causeway. I note the recommendations of the estimates committee in relation to this development. I thank the committee for its interest and consideration in the project.
The report also sets out a vision for incremental development in the area, including opportunities for new residential, commercial and clean industrial activities. It is anticipated that about 9,000 people could eventually live in the East Lake area. The government believes that the precinct can become a lively high-density urban community and an Australian showcase for sustainable development incorporating public housing and community housing as well as private housing.
The government is committed to fostering the social, environmental and economic sustainability of the territory. Projects such as that proposed for East Lake serve as examples of what is possible in setting new benchmarks for urban development. The East Lake precinct will be an example to the rest of the country. The commitment of all the parties involved and their willingness to innovate will deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the current generation of Canberrans and the generations that will follow us.
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