Ms PURICK - 2008-09-18
On 10 September this year, you finally announced that Urban Pacific Limited and Brierty Limited have been chosen as the developers for Bellamack. On 4 September 2007, you and the then Chief Minister, Clare Martin, announced expressions of interest to develop the new suburb of Bellamack were closing in a month. How is it that, on your watch, a year has gone by picking a developer for the suburb of Bellamack? Why is your department’s decision-making process so constipated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the opposition likes to attack public servants, however, I thank the planners who have worked hard on the Bellamack subdivision. I thank the Power and Water Corporation which has also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to proceed with the Bellamack subdivision. I also thank the Department of Justice, and Treasury, which also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure on the complex, two-tiered assessment process. It was complex and innovative. Why? Because we wanted to ensure new elements came into the provision of suburbs for Darwin – not seen before, new elements, such as water sensitive urban design. That is looking at sustainability for the provision of our new suburbs, also enshrining affordable housing for the first time in policy in the Territory, and enshrining public housing opportunities for those public housing tenants on the waiting list in the Territory.
Very clearly, when we were making the announcement about Bellamack, we had land in the marketplace in Palmerston not being turned off. It was in the hands of private developers and they were land banking. I have said that previously in the Chamber, and I will say it again today. We have private developers land banking. What we did with Bellamack was ensure that government retained control of the pace at which land will turn off. That provides for a very complex assessment process; a process that was overseen by a probity auditor. We have accepted in full the recommendations …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: We have accepted the recommendations of the selection panel. I know the opposition wants to complain about Urban Pacific and Brierty, but they are proven developers around Australia, and competition is good for the marketplace. If competition delivers affordable housing for Territorians and delivers good, quality subdivisions I say ‘bring it on’.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the opposition likes to attack public servants, however, I thank the planners who have worked hard on the Bellamack subdivision. I thank the Power and Water Corporation which has also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to proceed with the Bellamack subdivision. I also thank the Department of Justice, and Treasury, which also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure on the complex, two-tiered assessment process. It was complex and innovative. Why? Because we wanted to ensure new elements came into the provision of suburbs for Darwin – not seen before, new elements, such as water sensitive urban design. That is looking at sustainability for the provision of our new suburbs, also enshrining affordable housing for the first time in policy in the Territory, and enshrining public housing opportunities for those public housing tenants on the waiting list in the Territory.
Very clearly, when we were making the announcement about Bellamack, we had land in the marketplace in Palmerston not being turned off. It was in the hands of private developers and they were land banking. I have said that previously in the Chamber, and I will say it again today. We have private developers land banking. What we did with Bellamack was ensure that government retained control of the pace at which land will turn off. That provides for a very complex assessment process; a process that was overseen by a probity auditor. We have accepted in full the recommendations …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: We have accepted the recommendations of the selection panel. I know the opposition wants to complain about Urban Pacific and Brierty, but they are proven developers around Australia, and competition is good for the marketplace. If competition delivers affordable housing for Territorians and delivers good, quality subdivisions I say ‘bring it on’.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016