DEVELOPMENT Emotions run high at public housing planning discussions

By Mark Sawa, Canberra Chronicl Seven more sites have been identified as part of a broad public housing strategy stretching across several parts of the ACT. Representatives from the Community Services Directorate and the Economic Development Directorate gave presentations on the Draft Omnibus Territory Plan Variation to both the Belconnen Community Council and the North Canberra Community Council last week. The variation groups 17 individual sites together across Canberra’s north and south.

Agenda – Next Meeting Wednesday 20 August 2014

The next meeting of the North Canberra Community Council is on Wednesday 20 August 2014, 7.30pm at ACT Sports House, 100 Maitland Street, Hackett. Agenda GUEST PRESENTATION/S Draft Omnibus Territory Plan Variation -Discussion, with Environment and Planning Directorate representatives, of a proposed variation, to apply to about fifteen areas including four in the inner north. (to be confirmed) Traffic issues – Roads ACT -Discussion with Roads ACT of Dickson intersection improvements and a discussion paper on Ainslie traffic issues.

Put land leases in spotlight

When Canberra gets its equivalent of an Independent Commission Against Corruption, almost the last of the state and territorial government systems to do so, the body should be as focused on exposing incompetence, mismanagement and failure to secure the public interest as it is on corruption. A good place to start would be investigating the public benefit from 25 years of political and administrative dealings between ACT politicians and officials, and the top levels of the four major football codes. As a priority, this could compete against mismanagement and corruption of the functions of ACT planning, and the problems created for …

Tribunal criticises planning minister’s ‘formulaic’ approval of lease changes for clubs

The government’s treatment of the steady stream of clubs wanting to change their concessional leases to allow development has drawn criticism from the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which accuses authorities of not properly considering the public interest. The planning minister is supposed to ensure the public interest is protected when community groups change their leases, but the tribunal said in a July judgment that all 13 leases “deconcessionalised” since late 2010 had been approved. None had been rejected in the public interest, and planning authorities appeared to have “adopted a formulaic approach, since all the minister’s reasons were couched …

TURNER Development Application: 201425803 Address: 20 HOLDER STREET Block: 24 Section: 47

Proposal: MULTI DWELLING-FOUR NEW DWELLINGS-LEASE VARIATION. Demolition of existing single dwelling and swimming pool. Proposed new 2 storey development comprising of four townhouses with on-grade garages. LEASE VARIATION-Please see application form for full description.  Period for representations closes: 15/08/2014 Click here to view the plans

Raiders’ Braddon development one step closer after challenge blocked

The Canberra Raiders’ proposed $80 million redevelopment project in Braddon is one step closer to reality after the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal blocked a challenge to the removal of concessional status of the land’s lease on Monday. A year after the Braddon Club was closed, the North Canberra Community Council had sought to stop the club’s redevelopment plan for the site, set to include a mixed residential-commercial project consisting of 160 units, shops, restaurants and offices.

TURNER Development Application: 201425892 Address: 12 HARTLEY STREET Block: 17 Section: 63

Proposal: MULTI RESIDENTIAL-CONSOLIDATION-LEASE VARIATION-DEMOLITION-37 NEW UNITS. Consolidation of Blocks 17 to 21 Section 63 Turner; demolition of existing structures on the block and removal of several existing trees; construction of new building/s with 37 residential units, basement car park; and other associated works. Please see plans for details of proposed work/s, and the application form for details of the lease variation.  Period for representations closes: 08/08/2014 Click here to view the plans