Page 75 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2008

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facilities. The ACT Planning and Land Authority intends to undertake a review of definitions, including those relating to aged accommodation and service provision, as part of the territory plan restructure project, following the adoption of the new territory plan.

The government agrees to the committee’s third recommendation that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, or other ministers as appropriate, provide departmental assistance to Mr Starr to support his pursuit of financial assistance under available Australian and ACT government programs for the continuation of his family farm tourism business. I am pleased to say, Mr Speaker, in my capacity as the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, that I will take the matter up with the Australian Capital Tourism Research Unit within the Department of Territory and Municipal Services. The unit oversees programs to provide funding assistance for tourism-related development in the ACT to successful applicants.

The committee’s fourth recommendation—that the heritage values of the site, including evidence of prior use, such as some of the farm buildings, should be retained if economically feasible—is supported. The intention is to recognise and preserve the homestead precinct as far as practicable in the redevelopment of the site.

The committee’s fifth recommendation—that the ACT Planning and Land Authority require the developer to include high quality landscaping with native vegetation of local provenance on the site replacing the remnant exotic plant species which are not trees of significance—is agreed. The authority will require the developer to include high quality landscaping with native vegetation on the site as part of the landscape plan that is to be submitted at the development application stage.

The committee’s sixth recommendation is that the hilltop near the homestead should be retained as urban open space or an urban park, preferably with seating and a plaque commemorating the heritage values of the site. This open space should be well connected with access points from nearby streets and be fully accessible to the public. The government supports this recommendation, and it is intended that these provisions be incorporated into the lease and development conditions associated with the sale of the site.

The committee’s seventh recommendation is that detailed parking, traffic and visitor impact assessments be undertaken before community arts and crafts spaces or a market are developed on the site. The ACT Planning and Land Authority will ensure that traffic and parking impacts are considered for any community arts and crafts spaces or market proposed for the site.

I table the approved variation and the government’s response to the planning and environment committee’s report on draft variation No 287, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for considering the draft variation.

Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991—schedule of leases

Paper and statement by minister

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning,


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