Page 5567 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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(d) many people have already purchased homes in these suburbs on the understanding that Casey and Crace will have only 1940 and 1200 dwellings respectively;
(e) consultation on this Technical Amendment is “limited”; and
(f) this Technical Amendment represents a significant change to the dynamic of the suburbs of Casey and Crace and that the public, particularly those already residing in and around Casey and Crace, deserve more of an opportunity to consider the proposed changes;
(2) expresses concern that the scope of this amendment goes beyond what Technical Amendments are intended to apply to; and
(3) calls on the government to provide to the Assembly by close of business on Thursday, 18 November 2010 a detailed justification for classifying these amendments as Technical Amendments including any legal advice received and any advice provided by the ACT Planning and Land Authority.
This motion is not just about the developments in Crace and Casey. This motion is an important step in determining what is and what is not a technical amendment to the territory plan. It is about open and accountable development. It is about giving the community a say in what sorts of communities we develop. It is fundamental to the way we build our city.
My motion is in three parts: an honest outline of what is happening and the decision processes involved, an expression of concern about the implications of what has happened and the processes involved and a call for action from this government to make the process better, to make sure that whatever shape these new suburbs take, it is decided in an open fashion.
The government released the proposed technical amendment 2010-31 to the territory plan in October 2010. This went under the radar for a short time before stakeholders realised just what it meant. The amendment will significantly change the density of the Gungahlin suburbs of Casey and Crace by increasing the number of dwellings in Casey from 1,940 to 2,600 and increasing the number of dwellings in Crace from 1,200 to 1,800. This increase in dwellings will come at the cost of important open space, including ovals.
Many people have already purchased homes in these suburbs on the understanding that Casey and Crace will have only 1,940 and 1,200 dwellings respectively and that there will be substantial formal open spaces in those suburbs. Consultation on this technical amendment was limited. This technical amendment represents a significant change to the dynamic of the suburbs of Casey and Crace and the public, particularly those already residing in and around Casey and Crace, deserve more of an opportunity to consider the proposed changes.
The important question before this Assembly is not just the validity of the changes to these plans but the process undertaken to cause it to happen. The Planning and
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