Page 1539 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 7 May 2008
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project was powered from a traditional coal-fired power generator, achieving a 64 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through CO2; and an expanded skills base through specialised training in data centres management at local universities.
However, we must not get ahead of ourselves, just as it is premature to talk about putting the proposal on hold before the ACT Planning and Land Authority has had an opportunity to properly assess the suitability of the proposed development against all the relevant legislative requirements, including the territory plan. Dr Foskey will be aware that both the development application and the preliminary assessment require various reports and studies to be prepared on a wide range of issues, including air quality, noise levels and the relative merits of any proposed location. Of course, the Minister for Planning has already talked about the role of ACTPLA in that.
In this case I am aware that ActewAGL has lodged a development application, preliminary assessment and a number of other supporting documents with the ACT Planning and Land Authority. These documents are all publicly available on the ACT Planning and Land Authority’s website. These documents include several expert reports that have been released by ActewAGL and which cover the following issues: access and mobility, traffic and parking, site plan and aerial plan, plume study, heritage report, flora and fauna, bushfire report, geotechnical report, noise study, pre-assessment and site investigation report and a landscape plan.
I note that, in the lead-up to lodgement of these documents, the potential of several alternative sites was identified and investigated. I understand, however, that these sites were dismissed, based on advice provided by the Land Development Agency. I also note the suggestion—and I note that the minister made this comment before as well—by Mr Smyth of using the former timber mill site. I do not think that is necessarily a bad idea and it is one that could possibly be investigated.
Furthermore, following concerns raised by local residents, the Minister for Planning, as we all know, has extended the public consultation period for the preliminary assessment by three weeks until 27 May. ActewAGL are also keen to continue the community consultation process. For the information of members, I understand a community information session is to be held at the Town Centre Sports Club on Saturday, 17 May from 10 o’clock until 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
ActewAGL and Technical Real Estate have indicated a willingness to vary their plans to ameliorate community concerns and have also noted their intention to optimise the engineering design to ensure all environmental guidelines are met. ActewAGL and its partner Technical Real Estate have assured government that they will seek to satisfy all planning and environmental requirements.
At this point I would also like to mention that I do have concerns—not necessarily with how ActewAGL have advertised information about it, because I understand that they have given plenty of information to the media and they have also given briefings to members of this place who have been interested in it—that ActewAGL have been a little bit wanting in promoting or selling the idea of this to the local community. That does not mean that it needs to go out to all six surrounding suburbs or that you
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