It is probably too early to judge whether the ACT government has learnt any valuable lessons about consultation. However, its approach over western Greenway shows promise. And that is to be welcomed, given the controversy surrounding any westward expansion of suburbs in Tuggeranong.
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Rather than springing another surprise on bewildered citizens, it is taking a considered path, adopting a two-stage consultation program. The first phase of the program highlighted – perhaps unsurprisingly – the community's strong support for the protection of the Murrumbidgee River corridor. For the second phase, a community panel is being established to partner with the ACT government to "identify whether a viable, sustainable and equitable development is possible" in western Greenway.
While Planning Minister Mick Gentleman says development to the west of Tuggeranong's retail and employment hub would "breathe new life into the town centre", the elephant in the room is the possibility of construction west of the river. While the ACT government is looking at pushing (slightly) west, ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja is proposing building suburbs on the western bank.
The government's approach in the south of the territory stands in stark contrast to surprise decisions elsewhere. The overarching imperative appears to be the ACT's deep reliance on selling land for revenue. Couple that with an administration that has been in power for a very long stretch and you have a formula for an out-of-touch government. How else can voters analyse an array of development projects that involve government concessions, permissions and negotiations?
For instance, the Brumbies' controversial deal to sell their Griffith land and move to the University of Canberra, or the much-criticised Grocon-Giants bid for rights to redevelop Manuka Oval with 650 apartments and a hotel. The latest twist concerns whether the Manuka Occasional Child Care Centre can stay on land it occupies near Manuka shops.
Like many political leaders, Andrew Barr is prickly about criticism and, like his peers everywhere, regularly goes to the default stance of shooting the messenger, including this newspaper.
In the lead-up to the ACT election, voters will be watching closely to see if Mr Barr and his administration are prepared to listen – genuinely – to the people. Along with the growing tide of disquiet over land developments, the letters pages of this newspaper show voters are fed up with steep rises in rates, which to many appear to be designed solely to fund the Gungahlin-Civic tram.
The government has acted to stimulate residential development to counter the effects of federal cuts on the national capital, but in the normal run of things is unlikely to be credited for action that helped prevent a negative from occurring. Think Kevin Rudd and the GFC.
It's time for the ACT government to turn around its attitude towards process and continue, as it is doing in Tuggeranong, to be a more consultative administrative, that does not hatch surprise decisions that leave residents reeling. The alternative may be an escalation of the growing groundswell of simmering resentment to the extent that Labor is not safe in October.