Page 250 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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Again, the amendment acknowledges Tharwa. It is a significant area and it has a lot of opportunities. It acknowledges not only that region but the whole area because we have some magnificent national parks down there. We need to make more of that too when we are looking at tourism and other such issues. The amendment also acknowledges that we have got the Tharwa master plan happening.
I agree with Mr Smyth that Hume, because of its proximity, is an important issue as well. I have noted in the amendment also the fact that the Tuggeranong Community Council have registered Lake Tuggeranong. It is great that they have done that and taken that initiative. As Mr Smyth said, there are a number of clean-ups happening around there, including by the Sea Scouts. So all those clean-ups joining together will be good.
The amendment also acknowledges the point that we do need to find more long-term measures to mitigate the health of the lake, the health of the area and planning. As Mr Smyth said, the health of the lake has been a very topical issue. It is something that is probably relevant across Canberra, in particular with the rubbish. I know that the east Greenway residents have had issues with some of the odours coming off the lake there. So it is important we have a long-term solution and that we look at projects such as naturalising watercourses. This is something that the Greens are very supportive of. It is good that we are debating this issue because it is an important one. I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (7.56): I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this motion this evening and to outline the considerable value that the government places on planning and the coordination of planning outcomes at all levels across the ACT and particularly in our town centres such as the area of Tuggeranong.
I will also deal with some of the assertions made in relation to the motion on Lake Tuggeranong. The Tuggeranong town centre is a priority for the Labor government. The government is the first to have embarked on the preparation of a comprehensive master plan for the whole town centre since self-government. The latest plan to address the planning and development of Tuggeranong was undertaken by the NCDC in 1986 when it prepared the Tuggeranong town centre policy plan and development plan. Of course, this undeniable fact highlights the fact that during the time of the dearly departed ACT Liberal government in which Mr Smyth was the planning minister, there was no master plan undertaken in the Tuggeranong town centre. In contrast, the Labor government has made the process of preparing a master plan for the town centre a priority. It has also made undertaking a robust planning exercise built around meaningful consultation a priority.
The period for public comment on the draft master plan for Tuggeranong closes this Friday. There has been an extensive public engagement process that has involved displays, workshops, information sessions, newsletters and community meetings. The process has sought to distil what the community values and considers important to the improvement and enhancement of this fairly important centre. The draft master plan
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