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> Inquiries and consultation
Inquiries and consultation
Bushfire
Recovery Taskforce Final Report
The Bushfire Recovery Taskforce's final report to Government
is a thorough account of the bushfire recovery process. It
outlines key activities, progress to date, lessons learned
and visions for the future to help build a better future for
the ACT.
Shaping Our Territory
(Non-Urban Study)
On 19 February 2003 the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA announced
a major study into the non-urban areas of the ACT to address
the effects of the January 2003 fires. The aim of this study
was to provide the Government with recommendations for the
best uses of non-urban areas for the sustainable development
of the Territory. The final report of the Non-Urban Study
was released by the Chief Minister on 5 November 2003 and
its 113 conclusions and recommendations were considered by
the Government in December 2003.
On 19 December 2003 the Chief Minister launched the Shaping
Our Territory project and announced the Shaping Our Territory
Working Group to lead the implementation of this major project.
The Working Group is chaired by Sandy Hollway, with other
members being:
- Maureen Cane – Chief Executive Officer, Communities@work;
- Eric Koundouris – Director, Koundouris Group and
prominent Canberra businessman;
- John Mackay – Chief Executive Officer, ActewAGL
Corporation; and
- Stephen Skehill – Special Counsel, Malleson Stephen
Jacques and former Secretary of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s
Department.
The Working Group is supported by a Chief Executive Coordinating
Committee and an Implementation Group (based in the Chief
Minister’s Department). It is expected that the team
will operate until about June 2005, after which projects will
progressively be handed to agencies to manage and operate
into the future.
The major key projects under Shaping Our Territory are:
- Uriarra Village;
- Pierces Creek Village;
- Stromlo Village;
- the international arboretum;
- Stromlo/Deek’s Forest Park;
- the Cotter area; and
- the Tidbinbilla area.
The project is being implemented co-operatively with individual
government agencies, involves community stakeholders and public
consultation, and will include reporting on progress and outcomes.
Contact details are:
| Shaping Our Territory |
|
Ground Floor, ActewAGL House
221 London Circuit
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601 |
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601 |
Telephone: 02 6207 8944
Fax: 02 6207 0123 |
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McLeod Inquiry - Final Report
into the Operational Response to the January Bushfires
Following the devastating ACT bushfires of 18 January 2003,
the ACT Government engaged Mr Ron McLeod AM to undertake an
Inquiry into the ACT's operational response to the January
bushfires.
On 4 August 2003 the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, publicly
released Mr McLeod's Report. The Report is entitled "The
Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003
Bushfires".
Copies
of the Report are available online or from ACT Government
Libraries and Shopfronts.
General questions about the Inquiry can be made by contacting
the Chief Minister's Department on (02) 6207 5989.
House
Select Committee on the recent Australian bushfires
On Wednesday 5 November 2003, the House of Representatives
Select Committee on the recent Australian bushfires tabled
its report entitled A Nation Charred: Inquiry into the
Recent Australian Bushfires.
A copy of the entire
report and the individual
chapters are provided in PDF.
ACT Coroner's Bushfire Inquiry
The Coroner's Court is conducting a comprehensive Inquiry
into the cause, origin and circumstances of the bushfires.
The Coroner is now calling for written information and submissions
from the public regarding events and issues surrounding the
bushfires.
Submissions should be in writing and addressed to:
The Coroners Bushfire Inquiry
G.P.O Box 2167
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
Or faxed to:
The Coroner's Bushfire Inquiry
Fax No. (02) 6217 4508
Further information can be obtained from a recorded information
telephone line: (02) 6217 4319 or by visiting the web site
www.courts.act.gov.au.
Urban Edge Review
This project is now completed and a number of
investigations and reports have increased the Government's
understanding of fire risk mitigation. The new policy direction
of "shared responsibility" is being implemented
across all relevant Government agencies through a number of
ways, including:
- providing a policy information document for community
and stakeholders "Understanding Fire Risk at Canberra's
Urban Edge - A Shared Responsibility" to be available
by April 2004;
- amending legislation and regulations to enable the requirements
for the Bushfire Abatement Zone and Bushfire Prone Area
to take effect, anticipated to be mid 2004;
- improved design and management standards for urban and
non-urban areas, to be progressively implemented; and
- communication with the community to increase awareness
and information regarding firewise home design and maintenance,
fire season preparedness and the roles and responsibilities
of private citizens and emergency services.
Spatial Plan
The purpose of The Canberra Spatial Plan, developed
during 2002 and 2003 and to be released in March 2004, will
be to provide Canberra with a clear and visionary framework
for where we want Canberra to be in 25 to 30 years. Its focus
is on spatial planning - how we use space (the land and environs
of the ACT) and manage competing demands for space.
Further information can be accessed through ACTPLA.
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