Issues related to Planning and Development

Questions remain over disused grounds

There are currently 19 neighbourhood ovals and three district playing fields sitting idle at the same time as experts rue the lack of safe and affordable sportsgrounds to assist in helping maintain healthy communities. The ACT Government intends to review the status of these potential sportsgrounds on a year-by-year basis. At current rates some communities could be waiting up to 6 or more years before their ovals and fields are given a red or green light for rejuvenation. Two of these (Lyneham and Watson) are in north Canberra. Can we really afford to have ovals sitting idle in areas with …

Canberra Airport supermarkets

The ACT supermarket policy has just hit a roadblock with the announcement that Woolworths will join Costco in a major wholesale supermarket shakeup, after Canberra Airport was forced to look for a new tenant because of the continuing demise of Brand Depot. The only possible benefit to other supermarkets in the ACT from this development is that Costco might become an alternative wholesale supplier for smaller IGA’s and Supabarn in addition to Metcash, as well as Costco being a competitor to Woolworths in wholesale goods. A wide-ranging newspaper dialogue on this topic has just taken place.

Majura Parkway – Recent Media and Comments

The ACT Government, including both the Labor Party and the Liberal Party, seem hell bent on persisting with planning for a new four-lane Majura Parkway rather than upgrading the existing two lane Majura Road, which is the route favoured by the NCCC and the ACT Greens. The only noise pollution being felt at the moment is endless political squabbling over who will pay what and when. Adding to the mix of public comments is the Gungahlin Community Council, which apparently favours construction of the more costly and environment-damaging Majura Parkway. Recent articles have been published in the Canberra Times and …

Draft variation 306 to the Territory Plan

The ACT Government is seeking public comment on draft changes to the Territory Plan affecting residential estate development, solar access and consolidation of blocks in established suburbs. To explain draft variation 306 the ACT Government have produced a number of fact sheets which are available on its website. Draft variation 306 is available for public comment until COB Tuesday 2 August 2011.

ACT Govt subpoenas community groups’ details

The ACT Government has issued a subpoena against two Flynn community groups, ordering them to hand over private membership lists and three years of bank records.  The ACT Government solicitor has also written to the groups, demanding a $40,000 security bond to cover potential legal costs that could be awarded against the groups if they lose a Supreme Court appeal against the ACT Heritage Council.

Northbourne revamp plan

The ACT Government has given a glimpse of Canberra’s high-density future in its plans for the Northbourne Flats precinct in the city’s inner-north. A national competition will be launched today to find the architects to design the transformation of the much-maligned public housing complexes into a new and modern 800-dwelling neighbourhood.

Canberra Pedestrian Forum comments on the Northbourne Avenue bus priority measures and Dickson major bus station feasibility study

Northbourne Avenue is dangerous and dysfunctional according to the Canberra Pedestrian Forum. It qualifies as a road danger Black Spot on the basis of pedestrian casualties alone, with at least three pedestrian deaths in the past five years between Macarthur Avenue Lake Burley Griffin. Unnecessary traffic signal delays and inappropriate lighting, together with long distances between bus stops and safe crossing points, all contribute to a high rate of dangerous crossings.

The Elephants in Majura Valley

The North Canberra Community Council (NCCC) has questioned the proposed route of the planned Realignment of Majura Road. The Chair of NCCC, Jochen Zeil, has said that while the NCCC agrees that an Upgrade to the road is needed, the proposed Realignment is more expensive and more damaging to both heritage values and to endangered ecological communities, compared with upgrading the existing road. Read the media release here»… Read The Submission on the Eastern Broadacre Area here »… Read the submission regarding the Majura Parkway EIS here »…