|
The ACT Greens have again acknowledged that it is the Community Alliance that is in touch with the community by "me too-ing" another Community Alliance policy, says Roger Nicoll of the Community Alliance Party. "The Community Alliance has been saying for months that we need to reinstate the neighbourhood basis for planning," says Mr Nicoll. "As I said publicly in mid-September, planning is not just a technical task, it reflects the values and aspirations of the community – which is neighbourhood in the ACT. It's great to see that the ACT Greens agree with us, but their new policy does look very familiar."
At a practical level, the changes needed in planning are based on two things: - seeking community participation in developing a vision for the ACT that is generally accepted
- bringing communities back into setting planning directions for our districts and neighbourhoods.
"This has been the basis for our approach to transport policy, energy policy, population, health, education, employment and a host of other areas," he said. "It means working with communities develop a broad direction that IS accepted by Canberrans, whether it be a 'bush capital' or 'garden city' or a 'world-class' or 'international' city. "People in the outer areas don't want the regional model of service provision. It was the basis for the loss of services from the outer areas, seen at its worst in 2006 with the loss of schools, Griffith Library, buses and health services." "Because we understand planning, we have gone further, to say that we will strive to bring STATUTORY strategic direction, which although mentioned in the new Act, is sadly lacking from ACT planning. At the moment we have a block-by-block development control tool called the Territory Plan and a Spatial Plan with transitional and non-binding effect only," said Mr Nicoll. To meet the pressing needs of climate change and sustainability, the Community Alliance advocates real and immediate response from the planning sector. We support a triple-bottom-line approach, which adds the concept of social and environmental objectives to the economic ones that seem to be driving government at the moment. It is a plan for neighbourhoods. Our approach is a decentralised model that is currently out of favour. But it is in line with the essential plans for the ACT and, we believe, is an approach that builds stronger communities as a foundation for a better Canberra – which is what the Community Alliance is all about. Contact: Roger Nicoll |
Media Releases 
The Community Alliance Party is a dynamic alliance of ACT residents, community groups, and business people. We are seeking to establish balanced government and to make our Capital a better and more affordable place to live. We will achieve this through:
