Page 1575 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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I would also like to make the point that the planning strategy still identifies Kowen Forest as a site for future development. The Greens would like to see this ruled out as a future urban area for Canberra. Given the key development targets in the plan and the need for urban infill, it is hard to see how the western edge broadacre study contributes to meeting the goal of increasing infill and reducing greenfield land release. Also, given the proximity to the river corridor, there would be a need for far greater sustainability requirements if this area were to be developed.
Lastly, in relation to the planning strategy, I would like to say that community engagement is critical. While it is commendable that the government is consulting on the broad high-level strategy for Canberra, most residents do not become fully engaged until there is change proposed in their neighbourhood. This strategy does not clearly commit to better consultation with neighbourhoods about on-the-ground changes. Until that is done there will continue to be public concerns with what seem to be arbitrary changes.
Planning for the long-term future of Canberra is crucial so that we keep pace with what other cities in Australia are doing around public transport—planning in particular—and aim to develop a world-class sustainable city. We are not, as is sometimes claimed, different to other cities. There are plenty of examples of cities with similar population densities that we can look to. We need to ensure that all directorates and areas responsible for the relevant areas of planning, including, obviously, planning and transport, are talking to each other and ensuring that all the issues are properly considered so that we have a liveable and sustainable city for current and future generations.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (3.43): The Labor government has always understood the importance of strategic planning in creating a more sustainable Canberra. Late last year the government released the new draft ACT planning strategy for public comment. In response to the considerable feedback received and the general support for the directions it contained, the government is now finalising this strategy and setting out a course of short and long-term actions to achieve the Canberra that the community has said they want to see in the year 2030. The preparation of the planning strategy is but one part of this government’s comprehensive investment in and commitment to long-term sustainable planning for the territory.
In 2004 it was the Labor government that developed the first strategic plan to address sustainability—environmental, social and economic. Under the Canberra plan the spatial and sustainable transport plans set out land use and transport initiatives that would begin to make Canberra a more compact city and retain what all Canberrans value—good accessibility and its suburban character.
What is also important to take note of is that this Labor government is preparing strategic policies for Canberra’s spatial structure and for transport, demonstrating it understands that land use and transport planning must be integrated. Only by integrating these can we build a city that will support more sustainable choices for our citizens.
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