Precinct code – rewrite or change?

The ACT Planning and Development Agency (ACTPLA) released Technical Amendment 2012-06 for community consultation in late October.  This amendment to the Territory Plan involved transferring various provisions relating to individual sites in the ACT in different codes located throughout the Territory Plan to a single code, specific to each site, known as a precinct code.  With assistance from several sources, we were able to trace the origin of the various rules and criteria contained in the Hawker precinct code.   Most of them came from the Group Centres Development Code which no longer exists.   There was one criterion that had been reworded and seemed to have potential for a less favourable outcome than the original wording.   After discussion facilitated by Mary Porter, ACTPLA agreed to retain the original wording.  The technical amendment (including the Hawker precinct code) was incorporated into the Territory Plan on 14 December.   As a technical amendment, it did not need approval from the Legislative Assembly.

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Hawker SupaIGA – statement of issues

After examining submissions made to its enquiry into the competition effects of the possible takeover of the Hawker IGA by Woolworths, the ACCC has released a Statement of Issues.  This provides an opportunity for all interested parties (including customers, competitors, shareholders and other stakeholders) to ascertain and consider the primary issues identified by the ACCC.  It is also intended to provide the merger parties and other interested parties with the basis for making further submissions should they consider it necessary.  The ACCC considers that the proposed acquisition might have the effect of substantially lessening, preventing or hindering competition in the local market by removing Hawker Supa IGA as an independent rival in the market but will not make a final decision until 7 February 2013.  A  supplementary submission was lodged to address the issues raised.  At the request of Woolworths, on 18 January, an extension of time was granted for further submission.  The date for the ACCC’s final decision was eventually changed to 23 May 2013.