Page 1818 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 May 2013
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The bill increases the minimum consultation period for a full draft plan variation from 15 working days to 30 working days to reflect current practice. Experience shows that the period of consultation is regularly increased to at least 30 working days and sometimes longer depending on the complexities of the variation and the level of interest in it. The authority can extend or further extend the consultation period pursuant to section 63(2) of the act.
Section 90 of the act provides that the minimum consultation period for a technical amendment that requires community consultation is 15 working days. The bill increases this period to 20 working days. This is considered a more reasonable time to allow interested parties to comment but is still a period that will not significantly impact on the progress of a technical variation.
This bill is consistent with the ACT planning strategy, which sets out the government’s strategic directions for the development of Canberra over the next 30 years and beyond. The planning strategy includes higher density residential development within existing urban areas as a key initiative, particularly in town centres and along key transport corridors. An efficient and effective development application and approval system and territory plan amendment process are critical to ensure that the expected growth in developments in the territory is adequately supported, approved and assessed in line with both legislative and policy requirements, as well as the expectations of the government and the community.
The bill will allow provisions to be incorporated into the territory plan in a timely manner and ensure estate development plans across the territory are treated equally, whilst still ensuring proper community consultation in relation to development approvals. It will provide clarity and certainty about requirements for developers when they are developing their EDPs. It means better and more streamlined outcomes can be achieved for developers, the community and the government.
I commend the bill to the Assembly
Debate (on motion by Mr Coe) adjourned to the next sitting.
Annual and financial reports
Reference to standing committees—amendment
MR SESELJA (Brindabella) (11.08): I move:
That the resolution of the Assembly of 14 February 2013, which referred specified annual and financial reports for the calendar year 2012 and the financial year 2011-2012 presented to the Assembly pursuant to the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 to the standing committees be amended as follows:
(1) in paragraph (4) after “standing committees are to report to the Assembly by 16 May 2013”, insert “except the Standing Committee on Public Accounts which is to report to the Assembly by the last sitting day in June 2013”; and
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