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Canberra Today 12°/15° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Liberals saying no to light rail and anything that helps light rail

capital metro

ALISTAIR Coe says the Canberra Liberals will show their commitment to stopping light rail by voting against a bill on Tuesday designed to expedite the construction of Capital Metro.

The Planning and Development (Capital Metro) Legislation Amendment Bill was introduced into the Legislative Assembly last year and will be voted on by the Assembly on Tuesday (10/02/2015).

“Canberrans deserve a planning system which is accountable and provides for proper consultation with community groups. There is no doubt this bill will stifle the legal process, removing the rights of Canberrans living in or near the light rail corridor to appeal it’s development,” Mr Coe said today.

“The purpose of the bill is to enable the construction of light rail to side track the provisions in the Planning and Development Act. Amongst other things, the bill:-

  • Excludes ACAT Review for Development Applications;
  • Cuts the Assembly’s committee scrutiny period;
  • Allows for advice from the Environment Protection Agency, the Heritage Council and the Conservator of Flora and Fauna to be disregarded, and;
  • Simplifies the Development Application process to build light rail.

“What this bill does is solidify some worrying precedents regarding the planning process in the ACT, just so Simon Corbell and Shane Rattenbury can build their tram.

“The Canberra Liberals do not support light rail and we will take every opportunity to try and stop this project. We do not support side tracking the planning process. The Canberra Liberals will be voting against this bill,” Mr Coe concluded.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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