News - Planning & development

New ACT Minister for Planning Andrew Barr has announced the ACT Government's planning priorities for the next few years.

As Gungahlin residents would know, we have been working to get community concerns about lagging provision of infrastructure onto the ACT Government's agenda. It looks like we have been successful - the Minister's statement includes the following section specifically addressing Gungahlin:

We welcome this solid commitment to Gungahlin from Minister Barr, and look forward to working cooperatively with him to deliver these goals.

The Minister's announcement follows, and the full Statement of Planning Intent (only nine pages) is here (788.11 KB) .


MINISTER SETS OUT PLANNING PRIORITIES

Minister for Planning, Andrew Barr, has given the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) its second Statement of Planning Intent, which sets out the main principles that are to govern planning and land development in the ACT in the coming years.

Mr Barr said affordable housing was the Government's number one priority but also identified services in Gungahlin and climate change as important issues.

'To assist in meeting the Government's policy objectives for affordable housing, ACTPLA will continue to maintain five years' supply of planning ready land - around 11,000 lots and will also work with the Chief Minister's Department in implementing a number of other initiatives contained within the Government's Affordable Housing Action Plan,' Mr Barr said.

'This will include the introduction of a land rent scheme, the development of a compact housing policy and progressing englobo land sales as part of the five-year land supply strategy.'

Mr Barr said providing more services in Gungahlin is also an important component of the Statement of Planning Intent, as is responding to climate change. [our emphasis]

'To support young families and others who have moved to the Gungahlin area, and ensure their access to facilities such as shops, ovals, public spaces, petrol stations and leisure activities, the Government will look at how services in Gungahlin can be improved,' Mr Barr said.

'The Government also wants to continue to encourage sustainable living. In the past 12 months, the ACT has lifted the minimum energy efficiency standards of new homes, introduced minimum requirements for energy efficiency in new commercial buildings and has consulted on a policy that would make it mandatory for new homes to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in water use compared to 2003 levels.

'I have now asked the Authority to continue focusing on water and energy efficient building design as well as look at environmental performance of subdivision design, advise on incentive schemes for solar hot water systems in residential areas, improved integrated transport and land use planning, and pilot projects to showcase central city redevelopment opportunities.'

Mr Barr said the Government remains committed to putting in place reforms to the planning system to make the system better by removing duplication, inconsistencies and confusion.

'I acknowledged the important contribution ACTPLA has already made to planning in the ACT in responding to the inaugural Statement, issued in December 2003,' Mr Barr concluded.

< Prev		Next >