The Greens have cited new data from insurer AAMI as further proof that the Government needs to do more to support vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

According to the survey, almost 50% of ACT residents own a bike but only one in six uses it to commute. 80% of those who didn’t ride cited dangerous traffic and unsafe roads as the biggest barrier to riding.

“This result shows that our car and road focused Government is discouraging people taking up healthy sustainable transport options,” said Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Greens spokesperson for planning.

“The survey shows there are people out there wanting to ride, but being discouraged by Canberra’s traffic environment. The Greens have been working to address this through the Parliamentary Agreement by securing extra funding for bike paths and footpaths.”

“The AAMI report comes on the back of an ANU report last year, showing that almost one quarter of hospital episodes due to road trauma were cyclists.”

“We must prioritise sustainable transport like cycling, walking, and public transport. Increasing cycling infrastructure makes it safer to cycle, and better prepares Canberra for the challenges of climate change and peak oil, as well as improving people’s health.”

“The Government continues to prioritise car use, focusing on new freeways, and providing 50 times more capital funding for roads and car parks, than for cycling and pedestrian projects.”[1]

Ms Le Couteur said Canberra needs a multifaceted approach to create an environment that is cycling and pedestrian friendly, including:

• Making cycling and walking prioritised transport modes in planning, traffic, and urban design policies, instead of motor transport
• Structural measures, such as separated bike ways, and ‘pedestrian-priority’ spaces
• Improving road education to help all users co-exist safely.

[1] Figure from Government’s 5 year Integrated Transport Action Plan. It sets out $161m for road infrastructure projects and $41m for car parks. By contrast, it provides $4m for cycling and walking.

Greens Planning Spokesperson, Caroline Le Couteur MLA has called on the Planning Minster to publicly release advice he says led to a decision to exempt parts of the Molonglo development from Environmental Impact Study.

“Including an EIS is standard practice, and part of the Planning & Development Act.” Ms Le Couteur said.

“If the Minister says he’s received detailed environmental assessment that led to this decision, he must publicly release the reports and a statement of reasons.”

“Mr Barr’s press release is riddled with contradictions. He’s claiming credit for protecting Central Molonglo after the Government was dragged kicking and screaming to that position last year.”

“Then he announces the exemption of environmental assessment disguised under the headline ‘Keeping land release… environmentally sustainable’.”

“Molonglo should be a showcase of sustainability. It’s our chance to get it right and this should not involve skipping the usual planning processes.”

“The first suburbs are likely to be Wright (named after renowned poet and environmentalist Judith Wright) and Coombs, which borders the Molonglo River.”

“We would think that an EIS would help identify the right location for the border of the suburb along the river to minimise impact on wildlife, including the Pink Tailed Worm Lizard, at the rivers edge.”

“The Minister should be open about the information he’s received and give the assurance that we are not rushing this development at the expense of the natural environment.” Ms Le Couteur said.

ACT Greens planning spokesperson, Ms Caroline Le Couteur expressed shock at the statement in today’s Canberra Times that Woden East developers wanted to consider higher density but that ACTPLA would not let them.

“Higher density in major town centres makes sense on an economic, social and environmental basis.” Ms Le Couteur said.

“This situation would not have happened if ACTPLA had allowed a territory plan variation to increase density on the site.”

“This would have given the community and experts an opportunity for input. ACTPLA stopped the community even having a say.”

“Where is the Government’s commitment to higher density in town centres? It’s in the Canberra Spatial plan but not on the ground.”

Ms Le Couteur last week provided Additional Comments to the Planning Committee report on the Burnie Court redevelopment, describing the development as a missed opportunity to increase the number of units on a great site.

“These sites next to Woden are prime locations to have some higher density on the basis of public transport planning alone.”

“Jon Stanhope said today that increasing housing density along transport corridors is key to making Canberra more sustainable. This should be reflected by ACTPLA.”

“We should not be releasing Greenfield land at the outskirts of Canberra with relatively poor employment prospects, transport and community facilities without maximising the potential of these two sites right next to a major town centre.”

“If increasing housing stock is a priority, and we want to build a more sustainable city, the Government can’t afford to continue missing these golden opportunities.” Ms Le Couteur said.

Ms Le Couteur’s Additional Comments are available here

ACT Greens planning spokesperson, Caroline Le Couteur MLA has seized on a planning committee report on DV288 (the old Burnie Court site in Lyons) as evidence that the redevelopment has failed to capitalise on a great location.

“After redevelopment, the site will have only as many units as it started with in 2001. To cover 2/3 of a significant site next to Woden Town Centre – which has such great transport, employment and shopping opportunities – with single storey units is outright bad planning.”

“The Greens and the Committee both supported higher development on the site, however neither the community nor I supported a ten storey tower on the north-eastern corner of the development.”

Ms Le Couteur called on the government to significantly increase the energy efficiency requirements for the development so that it would be at least as good as that proposed for single residences.

“The redevelopment ignores solar orientation. In the first stage only 22% of the housing units have a northerly aspect.”

“The government is a joint partner in the Burnie court redevelopment so I cannot understand why this doesn’t conform with The Canberra Spatial Plan or their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“There are also some concerns about the consultation process, which started back in 2001. The Planning committee heard that people found documents misleading and that their feedback was not taken on board.” Ms Le Couteur said.

Protecting Canberra’s unique character as the ‘bush capital’ and re-establishing a neighbourhood planning process are two of the key elements of the Greens policy on Urban Planning, announced today by candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury.

“Urban design should be based on a long-term vision of sustainability, and should promote inclusiveness, equity and a sense of community and place,” said Rattenbury.

“In addition, the Greens are determined to ensure that Canberra’s bush capital characteristics are protected. The network of open spaces and nature parks through our city are undoubtedly one of our most valuable assets. As our city grows, and pressure for development increases, we must ensure that we protect the integrity of this network.”

The Greens also want to re-establish a neighbourhood planning process, and extend its coverage to all suburbs.

“Neighbourhood Planning was abandoned by the Labor Government after the 2004 election because it was seen to be too time consuming and demanding.”

“The Greens are committed to giving residents real influence in the changing shape of their suburbs. The neighbourhood planning process has worked well in Canberra where it has been used and where the plans themselves have been adhered to. Communities are open to adapting, as long as they have true input in the process.”

Other key features of the policy include:

-Implementing enforceable development standards for energy and water efficiency in residential and commercial developments, including random audits and penalties for non-compliance

-Mandating passive solar orientation of new residential homes and other buildings in subdivisions

-The incorporation of community gardens in neighbourhoods and englobo developments

-Mandating the disclosure of political donations made by development applicants

“This policy lays out the steps to ensure that we do build a Canberra that our children thank us for.
The decisions we take today will be with us for a long period of time, so we must ensure that our planning looks forward at least 50 years,” concluded Rattenbury.

ACT Greens lead candidate for Brindabella, Amanda Bresnan, committed the ACT Greens to pursuing Universal Housing Design after the October Election, when addressing a National Seniors Election Forum today

“Most of us want to stay in our homes as we age or lose some of our capacity,” Ms Bresnan said.

“which is one reason why the Greens are keen to see a greater commitment to Universal Housing design[1].”

“The Victorian Council of Social Service recently put out a paper called Universal Housing, Universal Benefits. They calculated that the economic benefits of universal housing for the Victorian Government was $70 million each year based on savings in home care, residential aged care and hospital costs.”

“The report also noted that “A comparative cost analysis of retrofitting home modifications in adaptable and non-adaptable homes in NSW found that modifications made to a non-adaptable home would cost between three times and eighteen times as much as those made to an adaptable home, depending on dwelling type.”"[2]

“In other words, not only is life much easier and comfortable for people who are aging, or living with disability, if their homes can accommodate their needs; but the whole community will save an enormous amount on nursing home and hospital expenses as well as the costs of adapting housing.”

The ACT Greens are calling for

-From now on, all new public housing to meet Universal Design criteria

-In the short term, an increase in the proportion of all new residences in the ACT required to meet Universal Design criteria, particularly those residential developments near shops, health facilities and services. (At least 25%.)

-Over time, the amendment of national building codes move all residential construction towards Universal Design.

-I have no doubt that it will be suggested that such a blanket approach will increase the cost of housing. That cost will be kept down, however, if these design principles become integral to house design, rather than factored in as optional extras” Ms Bresnan said.

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The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design describes universally designed housing as “an approach to building homes and living spaces which:

1. meet the needs of home occupants regardless of age or ability;

2. are capable of adapting to meet the changing needs of home occupants;

3. can be economically adapted to respond to the current and future needs of homes occupants;

4. are well integrated within the community.

[http://www.anuhd.org/content/principles-design]

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[1] http://www.anuhd.org/content/principles-design

[2] http://www.vcoss.org.au/documents/VCOSS%20docs/Housing/Universal%20Housing%20Universal%20Benefits-email.pdf

The Greens want a solar test applied to all new developments in the ACT, Greens candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury announced today.

“Now that we know the benefits of passive solar design in our living and work spaces, it is time for the planning approval process to catch up and include building orientation and access to sunshine in its development approval process,” said Rattenbury

“For instance, the development proposed for the Burnie Court site in Lyons, as described in Draft Variation No 288, is laid out in such a way that it makes poor use of the free energy of the sun.”

“At the moment, the Territory Plan says that overshadowing is allowed so long as it allows a minimum of three hours in some part of the living areas of existing dwellings. That’s a pretty minimal requirement”

“The Lyons Estate (nee Burnie Court) redevelopment is starting from scratch, so there is no reason why every single dwelling should not have good solar access.”

“The entire new development of Molonglo is the same. We have to be building suburbs now that are fit for the 21st century, not designed like it is the 1980’s.”

“We have to get smarter about planning and building if we want to reduce our carbon footprint and our planning system has a key part to plan in this process,” concluded Rattenbury