Page 657 - Week 02 - Thursday, 6 March 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
traffic, car parking and building interface at the time of sale of land in the CZ2 business zone.
The fourth change that has been accommodated through this final version of the territory plan comes from an assessment and audit of the area specific policy 4E—school grounds and ovals. The area specific policy 4E was added to the territory plan as a result of variation 165 for the open space network project. The primary purpose of the area specific policy was to protect identified open space value associated with the landscaped ground, school oval and/or playing field within the community facility land use policy at existing ACT government school sites. Following a review of how these surplus sites might be used in the future, a number of sites will be removed from the 4E overlay so that other appropriate uses under the community facility zone can be provided.
There was strong support from industry and the community for the new territory plan to be policy-neutral on commencement, but industry and the community have also expressed their desire for a further review of existing planning policies and controls. The success of this new plan will largely depend on the understanding of the new assessment system using the plan and application of it. To assist in this, a comprehensive training package has been developed as part of the implementation of the new planning system.
The territory plan, as a living document, needs to provide a long-term planning strategy and meet economic, social and environmental challenges. The planning policies that have worked for over 15 years may no longer be appropriate or adequate. The plan needs to be able to adapt to changes in accordance with future directions. If we are to excel in planning and creating “a city like no other” we need to have the vision and build on the outcomes that have already been achieved. The planning system will continue to evolve and be the subject of public scrutiny. We should be ready and willing to review and amend planning policy where it is in the best interests of the Canberra community.
Any future reviews will consider pressing policy issues such as climate change, sustainability and social equity in terms of housing affordability. This would include collaboration with the governments of the ACT and New South Wales on cross-border strategies such as provision of water, transport infrastructure and the sequence of future urban development.
The ACT Planning and Land Authority has worked very hard with the community and industry throughout the development of the new planning legislation and the new territory plan. I believe this has brought us a best practice development assessment process and a planning framework in the territory that can more easily accommodate the review and updating of planning policies for the ACT. If members approve the plan, it will, along with the remainder of the Planning and Development Act 2007, commence on 31 March this year.
I thank all those in ACTPLA who have been involved in this significant project over a number of years. I hope that their hard work comes to fruition later this evening. I commend the motion to approve the new territory plan 2008 to the Assembly.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .