No. 23

PLANNING TO MAKE OUR CITY READY FOR THE FUTURE 

Minister for Planning Andrew Barr said the Stanhope Government’s 2008-09 Budget provides additional funding to ensure the ACT’s Planning System is ready for the future.

Mr Barr said this year’s Budget will continue with the planning associated with new suburbs and will also help build a Canberra that is more environmentally sustainable, provides more affordable housing in areas such as Gungahlin and is ready for the environmental challenges of the future. 

This year’s Budget sees funding towards:

•	infrastructure for Lawson;
•	forward design for extension of roads and stormwater infrastructure, especially in Gungahlin;
•	concept planning for Gungahlin suburbs;
•	water management studies for Molonglo;
•	forward planning and design works for East Lake;
•	planning for land releases in North Weston and Molonglo;
•	enhancement of the partnership with the CSIRO for planning of East Lake;
•	a commercial and industrial land supply strategy;
•	sustainable communities initiatives;
•	energy efficient housing; and
•	enhanced electronic service delivery to small business.

“The Stanhope Government has recently delivered major reforms to the ACT’s planning system to make it simpler, faster and more effective, and to ensure Canberra remains the best city in Australia in which to live,” Mr Barr said. “The initiatives we are funding in this year’s ACT Budget build on this work.

“The Government will invest $4.1 million over three years for a range of projects to progress planning of the development of Molonglo, East Lake and the remaining undeveloped suburbs in Gungahlin,” Mr Barr said. “This work will lay the planning groundwork to ensure these new suburbs can be developed quickly and deliver affordable housing in line with future demand.

“This investment includes $1.720 million for further planning of the East Lake urban renewal project. This project, a joint effort between the ACT Government and CSIRO, will showcase new designs to make housing more energy and water efficient. By demonstrating these designs in this setting we will be able to learn how to better apply them in a broader range of developments to make Canberra a more environmentally sustainable city, better prepared to face the challenges of the future such as climate change.”

Mr Barr said the Budget also includes $4.7 million over two years for the forward design of infrastructure for new Gungahlin suburbs, East Lake and other future residential land releases.

“This funding will deliver designs aimed at creating road links and access to new suburbs and areas of future land releases,” Mr Barr said. “This planning work will also improve the quality of stormwater for re-use and provide flood protection in future developments.”

The Budget also contains funding of $976,000 over three years for the Sustainable Communities Strategic Planning Program which will see the development and adoption of policies to create a more compact city with more solar efficient housing.

“On the commercial front we will invest $510,000 over three years in research and monitoring to ensure commercial land supply is able to keep up with future demand based on predicted economic growth and employment needs,” Mr Barr said.

“The Budget also includes significant capital investments, including $16.5 million for the extension of Cohen Street and the replacement of the Belconnen bus interchange, and $48 million for the construction of roads, intersections and ponds in new residential areas. These investments, which will deliver on planning related outcomes, will be managed by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.

“As a result of the responsible financial management of the ACT economy and the Territory’s finances by the Stanhope Labor Government we are able to invest today in planning to ensure our city is ready for the future,” Mr Barr said.

Statement ends

6 May 2008
Enquiries:    Paul Kindermann	6205 1690	0403 600 955	paul.kindermann@act.gov.au