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 …

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.

Updated Agenda: North Canberra Community Council meeting 16 July 2014

The next meeting of the North Canberra Community Council is to be held on Wednesday 16 July 2014, 7.30pm at ACT Sports House, 100 Maitland Street, Hackett. The Agenda is: GUEST PRESENTATION/S 7.30 pm Community Solar – Qiao Han, Zhenfa General Manager, Energy Projects. 8pm (to be confirmed) Traffic issues – Discussion with Roads ACT of Dickson intersection improvements and a discussion paper on Ainslie traffic issues, which was expected in May 2014.

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 …

Agenda: North Canberra Community Council meeting 18 June 2014

The next meeting of the North Canberra Community Council is at 7.30pm at ACT Sports House, 100 Maitland Street, Hackett on Wednesday 18 June 2014. GUEST PRESENTATION/S 7.30 pm: Proposed redevelopment of the Lyneham Motor Inn (39 Mouat St Lyneham) – Lauren Saunders, Knight Frank Town Planning. 8pm: ACT Shelter Forum – role of the NCCC in the 21 July forum on the the impact of public housing on the surrounding community – Leigh Watson, Executive Officer, ACT Shelter.