Page 4247 - Week 13 - Thursday, 19 November 2015
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because that is our commitment. That is my focus as health minister—better access, better timeliness and more people getting the care they need in the time frames that they need it.
Mr Hanson: When will it be at the national average?
MR CORBELL: I will outline those things in due course.
Planning—statement of intent
MS FITZHARRIS: My question is to the Minister for Planning. Minister, you recently announced a new statement of planning intent. Could you please outline for the Assembly the purpose and process of developing the planning intent?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Fitzharris for her interest in planning across the territory, particularly in Gungahlin. The purpose of developing the statement of planning intent is to provide the community with information on the government’s intentions and also to seek their feedback on the development policies of the ACT government whilst also laying out clear structures for which the development can be planned and carried out without unnecessary delay.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2007 the responsible Minister for Planning may set out the main principles that are to govern planning and land development in the ACT. This is through a written statement, the statement of planning intent. The Environment and Planning Directorate, EPD, when performing its functions, must always take the statement into consideration and act accordingly. The last statement was prepared in 2010 for the then Minister for Planning, Mr Andrew Barr.
This year, after extensive consultation with a wide variety of Canberrans I have had prepared a new statement. This current statement builds on modern ACT government policies and studies set out in the 2012 ACT planning strategy, transport for Canberra, the climate change strategy and the action plan for the territory, AP2, with the aim of building a better Canberra.
The community were invited to have their say on the development of the statement of planning intent over a six-week period from 25 February till 8 April 2015. A conversation starter paper, outlining the challenges that Canberra is facing and posing three focus questions to guide discussion and feedback, was also prepared.
A report on the outcomes of consultation together with the outcomes on the six stakeholder workshops was developed from the results of this consultation and was used to inform the preparation of the final statement. Following the complete amalgamation of the reports, the statement was presented to the economic development and urban renewal subcommittee of cabinet on 1 October this year.
The statement establishes the key planning priorities for the ACT government for the next five years as well as the means of developing these goals. A series of proposed actions with time frames for implementation against four priorities have also been identified. These high priority aims are pursued with the simple goals of better
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