Page 84 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 25 February 2014

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MR CORBELL: Variation No 324 to the territory plan will enable opportunities for large bulky goods retailing, freight transport, warehousing and distribution operations to be made available to meet current demand in this location. There are currently limited sites large enough within the Canberra urban area to accommodate these uses.

The proposed zoning for the site—IZ2 mixed use industrial—would be consistent with the expanding large-format commercial business node that adjoins the site on the opposite side of Majura Road. The land forms part of a larger precinct—precinct C—identified as suitable for development as employment lands in the eastern broadacre study commissioned by the ACT Planning and Land Authority in 2009.

This variation to the territory plan is made in conjunction with a National Capital Authority amendment—draft amendment 84—to the national capital plan to change the land use policy of the area from broadacre to urban on the national capital plan. As the territory plan must not be inconsistent with the national capital plan, a date following the commencement of amendment 84 to the national capital plan will be set for the commencement of variation 324 to the territory plan if the National Capital Authority approves draft amendment 84.

Draft variation 324 was released for public comment between October and November last year. A consultation notice under section 63 of the act was published on the ACT legislation register and in the Canberra Times.

A total of 11 written submissions were received, which included submissions from the Canberra Airport, the Pialligo Residents Association and the Majura Valley Landcare Group. Two submissions were in support of the draft variation, one was general advice from the commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, and eight submissions objected to the draft variation. The objections mainly expressed concern about the future loss of the rural aesthetic surrounding the Majura parkway, the future loss of an attractive approach route to the city and the potential loss of agricultural land in the Majura valley. There were also calls for the development of a Majura valley master plan.

Under section 73 of the act I have chosen to exercise my discretion and not formally refer the draft variation to the Standing Committee on Planning, Environment and Territory and Municipal Services, as I believe the issues raised during the community consultation period have been appropriately considered and that there are no outstanding issues.

To ensure that the territory plan is not inconsistent with the national capital plan, a date following the commencement of amendment 84 to the national capital plan will be set for the commencement of this variation—that is, if the National Capital Authority approve draft amendment 84. I am pleased to table the approved variation to the territory plan and I commend it to the Assembly.


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