Senator LIGHTFOOT (9:37 AM) —by leave—The best explanation might be to read it.

The PRESIDENT —No, you had better explain it.

Senator LIGHTFOOT —The statement is with respect to draft amendment 39, which concerns State Circle and several streets behind State Circle and which was approved last year. The amendment was brought before the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories for that to be amended, even though it was approved. The committee approved it yesterday and, as a consequence, it was only put out in statement form this morning. I suppose it is, in effect, a report by the joint committee.

Senator Faulkner —This is a most irregular occurrence, but having heard that less than impressive explanation we will still grant leave.

Leave granted.

Senator LIGHTFOOT —I thank the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition for his generosity this morning in allowing me to read this two-minute statement, which it has taken me five minutes to explain. I thank the opposition for their cooperation. I wish to inform the Senate of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories' recent examination of draft amendment 39 to the National Capital Plan. The most recent version of this draft amendment was formally brought to the committee's attention by the minister, the Hon. Ian Campbell, in January 2004. The committee held a public hearing into this matter on 23 March 2004. The committee heard evidence from a potential developer, residents-lessees of the area and the National Capital Authority. As a result, the committee was able to advise the minister of our views on this version of draft amendment 39.

The committee is satisfied with the provisions of the February 2004 version of draft amendment 39 except for two items—building height and plot ratio—contained in the proposed development conditions for sites fronting State Circle. The committee shares the concerns of the majority of residents-lessees of the area with regard to these aspects of the development conditions for sites fronting State Circle.

The proximity of the Deakin-Forrest residential area to Parliament House gives it national significance. Given this significance, the committee believes that the existing low- to medium-density residential character of the area is the most suitable and should be retained and that future development in this area should reflect this character. It is therefore the unanimous view of the committee that the building height provisions applying to sites fronting State Circle between Hobart Avenue and Adelaide Avenue be revised and that the plot ratio provisions be considered as a consequence.

For all sites fronting State Circle between Hobart Avenue and Adelaide Avenue, the committee recommends that building height be no more than two storeys, that no point be more than eight metres above the natural ground level immediately below regardless of whether or not the blocks are amalgamated, that plot ratio for the residential redevelopment of existing blocks remain at 0.4 and that, in the case of amalgamated blocks, it be a maximum of 0.8.

The committee, however, acknowledges that, in the light of the recommended height restriction of two storeys, the building envelopes and setbacks would need to be reconsidered by the National Capital Authority. The committee therefore awaits the advice of the authority on the questions of plot ratio, building envelopes, setbacks and related conditions, given a height restriction of two storeys for the State Circle sites. The committee trusts that the government will agree with this recommendation and that the amendment will be revised accordingly.