No. 11

PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the 2007-08 ACT Budget contains $350,000 for a partnership with the CSIRO to showcase low environmental impact development in the East Lake area.
 
The CSIRO will partner with the ACT Government in making the East Lake area a national example of best practice in sustainable urban development.

“East Lake presents unique opportunities to showcase the incorporation of leading-edge sustainability principles at demonstration project sites,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The East Lake area was identified in the 2004 Canberra Spatial Plan for future redevelopment as its location provides an opportunity for shorter journeys to work and recreational activities in the nearby suburbs of Griffith, Kingston, Parkes, Barton and Fyshwick.

“Studies to date have confirmed there is considerable potential for increased residential and mixed-use development in this area that would create comparatively less greenhouse gas emissions and improved quality of life. 

“Achieving low emissions development requires the use of leading-edge science, innovative thinking and partnership with nationally recognised organisations with strong track records in sustainability.

“The CSIRO, ACT Planning and Land Authority and Office of Sustainability have been discussing ways for the CSIRO to collaborate through its Sustainable Communities Initiative with the overarching objective of making the best use of national and local expertise to achieve an Australian showcase sustainability project.

“This project will embrace social, economic and environmental sustainability principles, technologies, and practices.  It is a whole-of-system approach where community challenges and opportunities are addressed through identifying and understanding the drivers and levers for change within the community and developing appropriate pathways and investments in response.” 

Mr Stanhope said the CSIRO’s contribution to the project would primarily be in the early phases of the planning and development by identifying "stretch targets" and testing current standards and processes against benchmarks, while maintaining probity, equity and transparency.