Giralang shops redevelopment announcement and wider implications for local shops

On 17 August 2011 the ACT Planning Minister used his call-in powers to approve the contentious redevelopment of the Giralang local shopping centre. The spokeman for the 40 or so independent supermarket operators comprising the Independent Retailers Group has issued a veiled threat to take the decision to the Supreme Court (reported in The Canberra Times 29 August 2011). Criteria 33 in the current Territory Plan requires a development application to take regard of significant impacts on other commercially viable local centres.

Civic, airport mooted as stations in fast-train plan

Canberra Airport and Civic have been short listed for the terminus of a high-speed rail network. The cost for an access corridor and station is estimated to be $3.4 million compared to $1.7 million at Canberra Airport. The airline proportion of Canberra-Sydney travel is currently only 8% and is estimated to drop to 4% if a high-speed rail link between the two centres was provided. So why is the Australian Rail Association recommending a airport terminus rather than a Civic terminus. Where is the triple bottom line take into account social and environment costs (tearing up Majura Valley)? This decision …

Shoppers tipped to win as retail heavyweights face off at Majura

The final touches for big retail planning at Canberra Airport has finally been revealed with the addition of a 13500sqm Masters brand home improvement store stocking 35,000 products. This Woolworths-Lowe’s joint venture company will compete head to head with the new Costco venture at Canberra Airport. The ACT Chamber of Commerce says that the store wars will increase competition throughout the ACT. Shoppers will be delighted. The impacts on smaller home businesses operations haven’t been assessed because the airport is beyond the jurisdiction of the ACT government

Call for referendum to break ACT deadlock

Should the NCCC lend support for a referendum to break the ACT deadlock in regard to ongoing electoral boundary contentions and adequate political representation? The ACT Electoral Commissioner has told the territory’s politicians that if they cannot reach agreement on the right size and composition of the Legislative Assembly, the choice should be put to the people.

City study for QIC ‘offensive, outrageous’

Is the Queensland Investment Corporation’s Cooyong Street development another final nail in the coffin for existing small businesses in older Civic? The Council of Small Business (ACT) says yes it is. The ACT Chamber of Commerce and QIC say it isn’t. QIC have commissioned a small business impact statement, one of the statutory processes required by the ACT Planning and Land Authority as part of the development application. Those interested can download the impact statement and all of the other documents associated with development application 201129272 on the ACTPLA website.

Community grants

ACT Minister for Community Services, Joy Burch, has called on community groups to apply for $250,000 in funding to help pay for important projects and vital equipment. Ms Burch said the 2011-12 Community Support and Infrastructure Grants program awards grants of between $10,000 and $20,000 to groups that contribute significantly to the local community. Links to application packages and further information can be found at http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/wac/community/grants or by phoning 6205 1308. Applications close on 15 August.