A NEW planning regulation for Kingston Foreshore will reduce delays to new developments in the area.

Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell announced today the new regulation will exempt any third-party merit reviews; reviews that had previously caused excessive delays to some developments in the Kingston Foreshore precinct.

Mr Corbell said the regulation was an important decision “to create certainty for development of this area”.

“The Kingston Foreshore is a highly planned and regulated redevelopment area and developments which are consistent with this master planned area should be able to proceed with certainty,” he said.

“The regulation removes the possibility of third party applications to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for merit review of development applications granted in the Kingston Foreshore area.

“The regulation demonstrates the intention of this Government to seeing the community’s vision for this pivotal area, as reflected in the Territory Plan, delivered with minimal delay.

“This will reduce the potential for delays to developments in the Kingston Foreshore area which is good news for the residents and business owners in the area.

“This decision does not affect the right or ability of the community to comment on proposed developments or on future Territory Plan variations.

“The Kingston Foreshore is a highly changeable, high value area similar to the city centre and it is essential that a decision is made to ensure that development of the precinct is not delayed unnecessarily.”