Page 1295 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 June 2020

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The views of these residents have been overlooked. This is not the first instance where Housing ACT has seemingly sought to bypass the proper planning process and guidelines in this part of Tuggeranong. Two other developments have already been completed. One example is where two public housing dwellings have been removed and eight units erected. Another, around the corner, is where a single home has been taken down and five units erected.

It is worth bearing in mind that this is all occurring in an RZ1 zone. This kind of development is inconsistent with the development controls that are outlined in an RZ1 zone context. There is no acceptable reason for the ACT government, or Housing, to be given a different set of rules for this type of construction when the same opportunity is not extended to the broader community. This undermines our planning system and only opens the door for corruption. The residents of this area of Chisholm deserve that development that is proposed in this area be consistent with the RZ1 zoning controls that exist and must be abided by.

I support the residents’ call to have this development reconsidered and approved only if it is consistent with the RZ1 planning controls. I look forward to hearing a response from either the planning minister or the housing minister on how this will be addressed in a timely fashion. It is wrong that there is a single set of rules for the government and another for everyone else who seeks to do building work in the city. I commend the petition to the Assembly.

Planning—Weston parkland—petition 5-20

MR PARTON (Brindabella) (10.18): I want to speak briefly on Ms Le Couteur’s Cooleman park petition. I echo most of Ms Le Couteur’s words on this petition about the problem that has been created by a lack of facilities in Molonglo. I echo just about none of the words of Minister Steel.

Is the green space that has become known as Cooleman park the most well-utilised, important green space in Weston Creek? No, it is not. It is not at all. It is the most important and well-utilised green space for the people who live behind it and close to it. All power to residents who have risen up to voice their disapproval at this proposal. Sue said, simply, on Facebook:

Leave the Creek alone.

Rhonda said:

LEAVE THIS PARK ALONE. Remember there is an election coming up!

The admin of the Save Coolo Park Facebook page said:

… Coolo Park certainly isn’t the Amazon Rainforest or Central Park - but, as you know, this isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about function. Mother Nature doesn’t care whether we think she’s pretty or not; she’s just getting on with performing her function …


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