Page 2118 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2016
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One of the challenges we need to address is how we get more innovative, compact housing in existing suburbs. There is considerable concern from many residents about the appearance of McMansions in existing suburbs, and I personally share these concerns. These developments are changing the character of our suburbs but not actually addressing the issue of increased housing diversity and density in key areas of our inner city. This has not been an easy issue to address, and I thank Minister Gentleman and his directorate for the considerable amount of industry and community consultation that has occurred in order to get the outcome that has been tabled today. It is one of those issues on which it is very difficult to get agreement, but I think a lot of thought has been put into it and I welcome the efforts that have been made.
I make those observations today. A range of issues still exists about how we increase housing density while allowing for acoustic and visual privacy, solar access and cross-ventilation in compact homes and apartments. That certainly will require further work in the years ahead.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Planning and Development Act 2007—variation No 349 to the territory plan
Paper and statement by minister
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (3.31): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Planning and Development Act, pursuant to subsection 79(1)—Approval of Variation No. 349 to the Territory Plan—Public land overlay and zone changes—Parts of blocks 1616 & 1370 Belconnen (Pinnacle extension)—Block 7 section 72 Watson (Justice Robert Hope Park), dated 14 July 2016, including associated documents.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR GENTLEMAN: Variation 349 relates to two distinct areas, the first being part block 1616 and 1370 Belconnen and the second being block 7, section 72 Watson or Justice Robert Hope Park. Both these sites were subject to conditional approval by the commonwealth government which identified the areas at Belconnen and Watson as suitable environmental offsets for development occurring elsewhere in the ACT. The Belconnen site will extend the Pinnacle Nature Reserve as an environmental offset for the University of Canberra public hospital development.
The University of Canberra public hospital is a critical piece of infrastructure to improve the quality and capacity of the health facilities in the ACT and will provide 140 inpatient beds and 75 day places for additional outpatient services and will focus on rehabilitation and support for those with chronic conditions, recovering from
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