In a decision handed down late on Thursday, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned ACTPLA’s decision to approve a controversial redevelopment of the Woolworths’ car park in Dickson. The Tribunal determined the proposed development broke too many planning rules to be mitigated by conditions placed on its approval.
The ACT Government have issued the following media release regarding the Dickson Shops re-development. Thius will be discussed at the North Canberra Community Council meeting on 19 July 2016:
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.
The North Canberra Community Council has been informed by letter that the Lyneham shops will be undergoing a small scale works upgrade. The consultant for this is Indesco (consulting engineers). They are seeking community input from North Canberra Community Council members. Preliminary design plans will be drawn up following community consultation which ends on December 21. Examples of small scale works includes such things as pavement upgrades; improvements to drainage and lighting; replacing old furniture or minor landscaping work. To participate contact Deborah Matthews from Indesco on phone number 6161 2554.
The Economic Development Directorate has released the final Consultation Report on the proposed redevelopment of the Downer Local Centre Precinct. The site will now be prepared for sale. The consultation report can be downloaded from the Directorate’s Downer Local Centre Revitalisation page here
The Hackett Community Association (HCA) has been encouraging the establishment of a pharmacy at the local shops because there are many older residents of Hackett who find it difficult to get to nearby pharmacies due to lack of personal transport, poor interconnecting bus services or lack of mobility. This had led to a pharmacist leasing one of the shops at the Hackett Shops and commencing to fit it out in anticipation of obtaining approval to operate the pharmacy. This is a major demonstration of faith in the Hackett Community as it is by no means certain that the pharmacy will
The ACT Government is seeking input on the community’s values and concerns in relation to the future of Pialligo. Feedback will contribute to a master plan which will outline the development vision and planning framework for the next 30 years. Please visit www.environment.act.gov.au/Pialligo for more information including a short discussion paper and some preliminary ideas to improve Beltana Road. For more information call Canberra Connect 13 22 81 or 6207 1923. Closing date for comments is 23 December 2011.
A meeting will be held for all Downer residents, at 7pm on Wednesday 14 December at the Downer Community Centre, to discuss the redevelopment of the Downer local centre precinct. Letters of invitation were delivered to all Downer residents on 8 December 2011. More information is available on the EDD website http://www.economicdevelopment.act.gov.au or telephone enquiries may be directed to Mr Ross McKay on 6205 0675.
A motion to establish a Select Committee on ACT Supermarket Competition policy has been passed by the Legislative Assembly. The committee’s terms of reference were announced on September 22 2011
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.
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
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.
The North Canberra Community Council receives support and funding from the ACT Government