Page 2194 - Week 06 - Friday, 27 June 2008

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

that I will be able to lead the party to the election and, with the support of the people of Canberra, look forward to working with some of you in the next Assembly.

Petition

Ministerial response

The Clerk: The following response to a petition has been lodged by a minister:

By Mr Barr, Minister for Planning, in response to a petition lodged by Mr Pratt on 8 May 2008 concerning the proposed Canberra Technology City.

The response read as follows:

Gas-fired power station

Response for tabling to petition lodged on 8 May 2008 by Mr Pratt MLA, in relation to DA 200704152, Tuggeranong district.

The applicant for this proposal has lodged alterations to the application to respond to many of the concerns raised by the community. The altered application is being renotified and the subject of assessment.

The evaluation of a PA and the assessment of a DA are the responsibility of the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) and due process needs to be followed.

The Government has only provided “in principle” agreement to the use of the site for the purpose sought, subject to planning approval.

The petition raises concerns that the magnitude of the social and environmental impacts of the proposed Canberra Technology City remains unknown. The very purpose of a PA process is to scope the extent of potential impacts and determine whether higher level environmental assessment is required.

The DA process will determine the suitability of the land for the proposed use after consideration of the requirements of the Territory Plan, relevant legislation, and the outcome of any PA evaluation. As part of its assessment, ACTPLA will also take into consideration submissions from the community. The outcome of the determination by ACTPLA as sought by the petition, should not be pre-empted.

Appropriation Bill 2008-2009

[Cognate papers:
Estimates 2008-2009—Select Committee report
Estimates 2008-2009—Select Committee—report—government response]

Debate resumed from 26 June 2008.

Proposed expenditure, part 1.11—Department of Territory and Municipal Services—$306,295,000 (net cost of outputs), $172,297,000 (capital injection), $1,762,000 (payments on behalf of the territory), totalling $480,354,000