3 June 2011

Greens keen on solar access rights in DV306

| johnboy
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The Greens Caroline Le Couteur has expressed pleasure at this morning’s release of Draft Variation 306.

In particular they like the new rules on solar access rights, ie the right to feel the sun on your face.

“The Greens have been pushing for solar access rights for many years now, and were included in the Greens-Labor Parliamentary Agreement, so we welcome these provisions in the Draft Territory Plan Variation”, said Caroline Le Couteur, Greens planning spokesperson.

“Solar access is a key part of ensuring that we are able to build dwellings to catch and harness maximum sunlight, which are then not blocked out by neighbouring buildings. This is a key problem to solve if we are to build more energy efficient buildings.

“The Greens are also keen to see other solar access rights issues being addressed, such as ensuring that people have rights to sun on their solar PV panels and solar hot water arrays.

“Draft Variations 301 and 303 were withdrawn last year and sent to a reference group to be resolved as they were too complicated and controversial. The outcome of this is this new combined draft variation. The long and complicated process could be avoided in the future if the Government commits to better community consultation including public meetings.

“I am concerned that this draft variation – like the previous one – does not contain an overarching vision for sustainability. I am also concerned that innovation may be stifled by having so many strict rules and criteria, rather than a focus on outcomes with flexible means of achieving them.

Caroline, however, is concerned the never never 40% carbon reduction target has been neglected.

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I think its a bit more about this

“such as ensuring that people have rights to sun on their solar PV panels and solar hot water arrays.”

rather than ‘the sun on your face’

Wasn’t there a case in California where some guy forced his neighbour to cut down trees blocking his solar panels?

i wonder if will be able to use this legislation to push to remove the crap gum trees out the front and rear of my house that block the sun on my roof, make it impossible to grow anything and block my gutters.

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