Page 2205 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
20 June this year, I gave ACTPLA a new statement of planning intent. It takes into account relevant developments and actions that have occurred across government over the past three years. It sets a new policy agenda, building on the previous one, while adapting government policy to new challenges.
Challenges faced by the Canberra community over the coming years will include: having access to safe, secure and affordable housing—I am sure we would all agree, one of the most basic of human needs; the provision of more services in Gungahlin; and responding to climate change—the great moral and economic challenge of our time.
Implementing the affordable housing action plan to meet Canberrans’ aspirations of home ownership is clearly the government’s number one priority. To assist in meeting the government’s policy objectives for affordable housing, the planning and land authority will continue to maintain five years supply of planning-ready land, or the equivalent of about 11,000 lots. ACTPLA will also work closely with the Chief Minister’s and other departments in implementing other housing affordability initiatives. The initiatives include the introduction of a land rent scheme, development of a compact housing policy and progressing englobo land sales as part of the five-year land supply strategy.
Providing more services in Gungahlin, which has provided the lion’s share of new housing in the ACT, is another key government priority. The government will continually assess how services in Gungahlin can be improved. The government will do this to support young families and others who have moved into the Gungahlin area. It will work to ensure access to facilities and services, such as shops, schools, ovals, public spaces, petrol stations, and sport, recreation and leisure facilities for all Gungahlin residents.
Through the statement of planning intent, I have indicated to ACTPLA that it also needs to: continue its focus on water and energy efficient building design; improve the environmental performance of subdivision design; consider incentive schemes for solar hot water systems in residential development; improve transport and land use planning outcomes; and implement pilot projects to showcase central city redevelopment opportunities.
The government remains committed to reforming the existing planning system by removing duplication, inconsistencies and confusion. Last week’s debate on the new planning legislation and the work on the new territory plan lays the foundation for the territory’s new planning system to be in place in the first quarter of 2008. My commitment is that this new planning system will be simpler, faster and more effective.
The government will also encourage ACTPLA to continue to develop a range of partnerships to better serve the Canberra community when addressing contemporary challenges. The statement of planning intent sets new directions for the planning and land authority for the next few years. I look forward to implementing the principles set out in the statement of planning intent—preserving Canberra’s unique heritage whilst meeting Canberrans’ aspirations for home ownership in a sustainable manner.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .