Page 1743 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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The draft variation included the proposed changes in the land use policies to permit supportive housing on the site, which is in line with the ACT government’s ageing in place strategy. The planning study which informed the draft variation demonstrated that the change would not adversely affect the provision of uses that are permissible under the restricted access recreation land use policies. The current building on the site could not be readily reused for another type of recreation facility.
The main issues raised in the public submissions were related to design issues such as the generation of additional traffic impacting on the surrounding residential developments, particularly the Huntington apartments and Kaleen high school. The comments also included design elements such as height, setbacks and amenity issues related to traffic noise for the residents of the area and safety in access to facilities for residents, pedestrians and cyclists.
The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment in its report released in May of 2007 made 10 recommendations, including a recommendation that the proposed variation proceed. The committee recommended that the ACT Planning and Land Authority ensure that all buildings comply with Australian standards for noise attenuation.
The recommendation also included safety and amenity issues such as overshadowing pedestrian and cyclist movement around Kaleen and the proposed suburb of Lawson. Recommendations were also made on developing a partnership between Kaleen high school, the new development and other residents. I understand that the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, through the schools as communities program, which involves community outreach work to enhance social and educational outcomes amongst children and young people, will take up this option. There is an allocated worker for Kaleen high school who will be available to facilitate such a partnership, and this is strengthened by the agreement of the proponent to secure the services of a social planner.
In addition, the committee recommended that the disruption to the residents of Huntington apartments and the school community be minimised during and after construction. The committee also recommended that the authority consider amending the Planning and Development Bill 2006 to include the requirement for a planning report for any proposal that would deplete community and recreational land. It is in situations like this under section 417 of the bill that I, as planning minister, have discretionary powers to require a planning report.
The bill also includes a mandatory trigger of an EIS when applications are lodged to vary a concessional lease. There is provision under section 257 to restrict the transfer of a concessional lease only to a transferee who meets the criteria of a concessional lease.
The recommendations also included that a planning report be prepared for concessional leases, direct grant land, any development application for a community facility use in areas other than the community facility zone and any proposal to vary the community facility zone. The committee also recommended that all planning reports and community needs assessments be publicly available and be referred to an interdepartmental committee upon completion.
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