Page 40 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2008

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DR FOSKEY: Is the government prepared to consider a curfew in light of growing community concern and in light of the increased value of information which no doubt will be unearthed as it prepares its response to the master plan?

MR STANHOPE: As I indicated, the ACT government has no capacity to impose a curfew on Canberra international airport. As a result of the planning regime put in place by the Howard Liberal government, with the support of its branch here in the ACT and the ACT opposition, the ACT government has no capacity to control or influence operations at Canberra international airport. The ACT government will, of course, engage in community debate around the expansion of the airport. In the context of all of our commitments to triple bottom line policy making and accountability, we need to look at all aspects of the operations of Canberra international airport. It is one of the most significant drivers of this economy imaginable, and over time it will become more important and more significant as an economic driver for Canberra and the Canberra region.

With respect to a review of economic opportunities in the ACT, we need to work with Canberra international airport and the community in order to maximise and optimise opportunities for expansion of our economic base and of industry. The airport will be pivotal in this regard—and, over time, more and more so. In any consideration of issues around noise, curfews, economic growth and development, we need to weigh up the economic, social and environmental implications of the expansion of the airport—and, indeed, of any industry. So, yes, the government will always look at the social and environmental aspects of master planning for airport growth, an increase in flight movements and an expansion in noise. But we will, in that consideration, also have regard for the importance and significance of Canberra international airport to the ACT and the region now, and, I believe, increasingly in the future. It is a major driver; it is pivotal to our continued economic success.

Dr Foskey, I refer to your protestations about the need for triple bottom line accounting and policy making and your consideration of the social and environmental impacts of Canberra international airport. I hope that, in your contribution to the public meeting that you attended, you urged all those present to ensure that they balanced the economic considerations with the social and environmental impacts and implications of the expansion of Canberra international airport.

Housing—affordability

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, on 27 June 2002 in this Assembly, your then planning minister, Mr Corbell, when discussing the creation of the Land Development Agency, said:

The move towards greater government land development will contribute to assisting housing affordability through two main mechanisms:

• firstly, by ensuring adequate land supply some pressure will be taken off land prices, bringing land ownership closer for many families and small businesses; and


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