Page 3441 - Week 09 - Thursday, 24 August 2017

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(8) Are all urban planning decisions, including development approvals and new urban renewal strategies like Kingston Arts Precinct or Woden Town Centre, being made in preparation for or in consideration of EPs; if not, what impact will the failure to consider EPs have on future entertainment options and business development in these areas.

Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The Urban Sounds Discussion Paper that was released for public consultation in 2016 put forward 11 options for managing noise in mixed use precincts. Two of these options related to the creation of entertainment precincts – Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) and Exclusive Entertainment Precincts (EEPs). A SEP could be established in a mixed use area in a central location and would cater for activities and events with higher noise levels. An EEP would exclude residential and other noise sensitive uses that could be impacted by events and entertainment, particularly at night time.

As the recommendations resulting from the public consultation process are still being finalised, no entertainment precincts have been designated at this time.

(2) Recommendations are being developed on the options in the Urban Sounds Discussion Paper, including some on investigating entertainment precincts.

(3) Yes - A Territory Plan variation would be needed to implement entertainment precincts. Noise Level Standards will also need to be amended in creating entertainment precincts, with regulatory change occurring through the Environmental Protection Regulation 2005.

(4) At this stage, no SEP or EEP locations have been selected by the Government.

Public engagement through the Urban Sounds Discussion Paper included the ability for visitors to the Your Say website to drop pins in an interactive map on possible locations where SEPs could be established. Suggested locations included Woden/Phillip, Kingston, New Acton and Civic.

(5) Entertainment precincts will contribute to the diversity of economic activity in Canberra, particularly for the entertainment, leisure and hospitality sectors. Special entertainment precincts which incorporate residential developments would add to the housing mix available in urban areas.

(6) The focus of the Urban Sounds Discussion Paper was managing noise in mixed use precincts. Thus, the recommendations for creating entertainment precincts will primarily address noise.

(7) The details of entertainment precincts are yet to be finalised.

(8) There is no interim effect of possible locations of entertainment precincts in planning approvals. This should not diminish current opportunities for business development of potentially noisy uses in any future entertainment precincts. Compliance with the current noise provisions in the Commercial Zones Development Code enable such uses to take place.


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