Page 1051 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2015

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If we are to achieve the vision for a connected, livable and prosperous city, the changing demographics of the ACT will require significant shifts in planning policies to enable a choice of housing, facilitate new and innovative ways for services and community facilities to be delivered, and allow people to live in places where they are socially connected and familiar with local facilities and services.

We also need to ensure our planning is focused on providing more opportunities and places for people in our city to meet, interact and access the services they need. An integrated transport network is central to that, as is the way we strategically plan for growth in line with our key transport corridors and ensuring the viability of our local, group and town centres as well.

It is also about creating a city that is about people and the way Canberrans live in this city. The ACT government have this at the forefront of our mind as we get on with the job of integrating land use and transport planning that will see our city develop, meet the needs of its people, create opportunities for growth and fulfil our role as the nation’s capital whilst being ever mindful of how we can keep true to what Canberrans love about living in this city.

The ACT planning strategy and transport for Canberra plan, both adopted in 2012, are key strategic plans that will guide and shape our city into the future. Both reinforce the ACT government’s priorities and set about realising the potential of this city state. In combination, these documents prioritise development along and adjacent to major transport corridors that connect town centres. They will help deliver better transport and urban infrastructure and suburbs and centres which are connected. It is these strategic policies that will enable us to see our economy prosper, to diversify, to become sustainable and, importantly, foster innovation, not only for the benefit of Canberrans but for our whole region.

Before I speak specifically to the University of Canberra Amendment Bill, I will first talk about the importance of the connection between future plans for the University of Canberra campus and the Belconnen town centre master plan. The ACT planning strategy calls for master plans to be undertaken responding to place-specific needs for Canberra to be a city where everybody can take advantage of its network of centres, open spaces and modes of travel to enjoy a sense of wellbeing and participate in a vibrant civic and cultural life.

The master plan program is responding to the emergent policy agenda of this government by seeking to implement the outcomes and recommendations of strategies and programs aimed at ensuring that investment in our urban areas meets the aspirations and needs of our community both now and into the future. I am pleased to inform the Assembly that this work is progressing well on the renewal of the Belconnen master plan, one which will guide its development and secure its viability into the future.

The Belconnen town centre provides a significant amenity for the residents of the Belconnen area for recreation, employment, health and retail facilities. The centre’s setting by Lake Ginninderra and its relationship with nearby institutions offers


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