Page 4088 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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In order to maintain our most livable status in the ACT, visionary investment and city planning are needed. Planning helps encourage private sector investment and construction while creating efficient systems of public transport and other government service delivery. I wish to speak further on the impact of planning and amendments to the territory plan on economic growth in the city. The territory plan provides a mechanism where the controlled development of the ACT can occur. As such, it is an important tool to be used to stimulate economic activity when negative impacts such as federal job cuts to the public service occur. An example of the way variations to the territory plan can help stimulate business and the economy can be seen through the changes made to the territory plan in variation No 324, which commenced in April this year. This variation to the plan in Pialligo has allowed the approval of the construction of the IKEA project.
Through variation 324 to the territory plan, IKEA is able to construct a large store that will provide up to 280 new jobs for the territory when it is completed later next year. The recruitment of these positions has already begun. Not only has the planning variation provided the opportunity for these retail sector jobs to be created, but numerous jobs in the construction sector have also been created during the construction period. This project offers diversity to the ACT economy and shows the confidence that industry has in the market here, despite the slowing caused by the cuts to the federal public service. Since then I have had positive signals from other large-format retail chains that show they are also interested in Canberra.
An additional important and economically stimulating variation to the territory plan is variation 308, which allows a redevelopment of Cooyong Street in Braddon adjacent to the city centre. This variation will facilitate the removal of the Cooyong Flats and provide for the construction of high density, mixed-use residential dwellings. This is a unique opportunity which will provide construction jobs, business opportunities, and further sustainable high density housing in close proximity to the city. These planning initiatives, along with many others, will help strengthen the ACT economy during this period of short-term pressure from the federal government and push forward for positive outcomes for the territory into the future.
It would be improper not to mention the impact the Mr Fluffy crisis will have on our economy. Managing the challenges placed on the ACT government is no doubt one of the biggest hurdles this community will face over our lifetimes, but it is one I am certain we will be able to get through. This will be done through the buyback scheme, asbestos awareness training and looking at the planning tools we can use to help ease pressure on our own budget.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Regional Development) (4.00): I welcome the opportunity to talk about the strength of the ACT economy and the strong prospects for long-term growth.
These are certainly difficult times for some in our community, and our economy clearly faces some challenges, but that makes us more determined on this side of the Assembly to ensure that we do our part to support the economy going forward. And
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