Issues related to Planning and Development

Have your say on the future of the Dickson community cultural precinct

The Dickson community cultural precinct (Dickson Section 72) is the area to the east of the Dickson Aquatic Centre, bounded by Antill Street, the Dickson playing fields and the shared community path that leads from the Dickson shops at Cowper Street to Dickson College on Philip Avenue. Its current zoning prohibits residential development. The ACT Government is proposing to change the zoning of the whole of Section 72 to a Commercial Zone that would allow residential development. The proposal forms a part of its Omnibus Territory Plan Variation (see link below) which will allow zoning changes at 17 sites across the ACT. A …

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.

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 …

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.

Parkes Section 3 Community Engagement

Public comment is sought on the future development of Parkes Block 6 Section 3. The site is located at the south east corner of Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street and is bounded by Parkes Way to the south. The proposed design will be available for public comment from 26 June 2014 to 7 August 2014 through a range of methods, including the following information sessions:

Report supports Braddon Club site for community purposes

A North Canberra Community Council survey shows that North Canberra residents want the Braddon Club site to remain available for community purposes such as recreation, community activities or a playing field. “The Braddon Club site was part of the Northbourne Oval from 1925 until 1998. In 2006 the Canberra Raiders paid $420,000 for a lease that allows them to use the site only for the purpose of a club, and prevents them from selling it without the approval of the planning and land authority. They have closed the club on the grounds that it was not profitable. They are currently …

ACT adapting to climate change

On 21 May the ACT Government has released Adapting to a changing climate: Directions for the ACT (PDF, 1.3 MB). The paper addresses the impact of climate change on health and wellbeing, disaster and emergency management, settlements and infrastructure, water, natural resources and ecosystems and agriculture. At the launch, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell explained that the Government would consult with the community later this year on an adaptation strategy, focusing on Community health and wellbeing, Disaster and emergency management, Settlements and infrastructure, Water, Natural resources and ecosystems and Agriculture. Professor Barbara Norman explained that we …