Page 3673 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013
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There is certainly a problem with the lane space available for the swim clubs. There is certainly a problem, particularly as the population gets older—and it will age quite rapidly in Tuggeranong; we have shrugged off “nappy valley” and we are now all getting older down in that part of the world. The need for facilities where people can exercise in comfort and where people can actually get into the pool at appropriate times is a big issue for the valley. We know that there are problems with the amount of space available and this will provide a clear answer to it.
It leads to a third issue in regard to Calwell at large, and it is still the lack of a master plan. Mr Wall had a great win when the Assembly agreed that there would be a master plan, and the government has made indications in that way now. But it is a long time coming. If we are going to get these centres right for the long term, if we are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past, when we know certain facilities are required, particularly around group centres like Calwell, it is important that we get on top of this from the start. The best way to do that, and the best way to ensure that, is, of course, to have an appropriate master plan.
At this stage we are yet to see that. We look forward to it. But there are a number of issues there that again are so symptomatic of this government in the delivering of planning and certainty in the ACT. We have treasurers that make statements that are never followed through, we have application of the law that seems contrary at best, and of course we have the lack of the master plan for the suburb of Calwell.
I will be supporting Mr Wall’s motion. It is a good motion. It is quite appropriate for the Assembly to call on the Treasurer to do something within the confines of the law, and it is appropriate that that happen today. This Assembly is here to tell the government, as a united body, what it is that we think. It is appropriate, in the nature of this motion, that we give that guidance to the Treasurer.
Mr Wall is talking with Mr Rattenbury. Two ministers now have come to join the fray. I understand there is an amendment coming back to the amendment, and I am sure Mr Wall will be in a position to talk about that shortly. I am not sure whether Mr Corbell or Mr Gentleman are going to join the debate and give us an opinion. At this point we will wait and see.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (10.58): I rise to speak today on the issues around commence and complete. My colleagues have addressed the issues around the swimming facilities per se, and I will leave those comments with them. But I wanted to address the issue of commence and complete fees more generally.
It is important to remind members that the purpose of commence and complete fees is to ensure that people who purchase land in the territory develop it in a timely manner. Members would recall that there have been repeated questions in this place to me from members of the opposition, notably Mrs Jones but others as well, about the failure of certain property owners to develop land in a timely manner—in particular, sites of land in Amaroo and service station sites in a number of suburbs around the city.
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