Page 1353 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 May 2015
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already been adjusted in response to some of the community feedback from more than 80 submissions. For instance, there will now be fewer homes, increased setbacks and more landscaping.
Indeed, there are multiple public housing developments located on sites just like this, near schools and shops, right across our city. Many are well established; some are new. For example, there is a supportive housing complex being built right next door to my children’s school in Harrison. This supportive housing complex is being built by the ACT government in conjunction with Project Independence, an organisation which supports people with a disability to live alone. That development went through detailed community consultation with schools and the general community and then through the full planning process, and construction is underway.
To my knowledge there was no opposition. Indeed, I have direct experience of its being fully supported by the local community. I am somewhat concerned that the Nicholls proposal appears to be so strongly opposed. If that opposition is based on lack of information then I know the ACT government will do what it can to make sure the information is fully available.
Further, across the road from my children’s school is another community housing complex that was built at the same time as the school, a complex with a vibrant and welcoming community that welcomes the local community to walk in their grounds and experience the important heritage track that runs alongside it.
I am sure that, just like the rest of the Canberra community, the residents of Nicholls want to measure the success of their community by the compassion and support they provide for some of our most vulnerable members. I am also sure that we should measure our own actions as community leaders against that same standard, just as our community expects.
Integrating public housing is a critical element of achieving fairness in our community but it must be done in a way that is consultative and in the best interests of tenants and the community. That is why I know the government will continue to work with local communities to ensure that the design and location of our renewed housing are appropriate to individual locations.
Public housing renewal is vital to our overall plan for urban renewal and will take place over the next five years. Owen flats will be the first public housing site to be renewed, and the ACT government are talking closely with tenants there and working one on one with residents to make sure we know exactly what their needs are. I know tenants will want to know where they will be relocated, and that is why it is important that the government provide an update no later than the last sitting day in 2015 on the replacement housing for tenants being relocated as part of the public housing renewal program.
This government knows that public housing renewal is not just about building buildings. We know that it is about building communities, and that is exactly what we are doing and will continue to do. I commend the motion.
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