EMBARGOS: U6NPD. AMY., 5 NOVEMBER
FOR PRESS: PM. No. 95/ 1972
NURDA APPOINVr' ENTS
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. William
McMahon,
The appointment of Sir John Overall, as
Commissioner, and Mr Robert Broughton Lansdown, as Deputy
Commissioner of the National Urban and Regional Development
Authority, was welcomed today by the Prime Minister,
Mr McMahon. Mr McMahon said Sir John had been appointed Commissioner
until 14 July 1973, and* Mr Lansdown had been appointed Deputy
Commissioner for a period of 7 years.
Sir John was the founding Commissioner of Canberra's
planning and development authority, the National Capital
Development Commission and in this role had guided the city's
growth for nearly 15 years.
Mr McMahon said Sir John had previously announced his
intention to retire next July on his 65th birthday but had
offered his services as a consultant to the Commonwealth
should they be required.
Mr Lansdown had been an Associate Commissioner of the
N. C. D. C. since 1965 and had an intimate knowledge of land
development and urban economics.
Mr McMahon said the Government believed it was most
fortunate in having two men of the calibre of Sir John and
Mr. Lansdown to head the new Authority.
EMBARGO:

2.
He said that Sir John had been appointed
Commissioner of the N. C. D. C. in 1958 to carry out the task
of getting a new Authority launched to plan and develop
Canberra and only those who knew Canberra prior to 1958, could
realise just how successful he had been.
CANBERRA, November 1972