The past month has given some cause for cautious optimism with Canberra, having so far avoided any serious outbreaks of COVID-19, beginning to take the first tentative steps towards re-opening.
The NCCC will continue monitoring events and considering when would be appropriate for Public Meetings to re-commence. We will be in touch with members as soon as a decision is reached.
Nevertheless, it has been another eventful month in Canberra in planning news with the proposed West Basin development in particular generating significant community interest and concern.
NCCC Updates
- West Basin development: Earlier this month, new details of the proposed changes to Lake Burley Griffin’s West Basin precinct were revealed as the City Renewal Authority submitted its works approval application to the National Capital Authority. The public consultation period on the works, which include the construction of a new boardwalk (including reclaiming land currently under water) and associated infrastructure for apartments, closes on 22 May. A broad range of concerns about this development have been raised by NCCC members as well as by groups such as the Lake Burley Griffin Guardians, who have worked tirelessly to raise issues around the further privatisation of public land and green space and diminution of the area’s heritage values. The NCCC, in particular, notes that the short timeframe for public consultation and inability to canvass these issues in a public forum is regrettable for a development of such significance for the North Canberra community.
- Angas Street, Ainslie: The Ainslie Football Club is seeking to create an additional driveway onto Angas Street, which has raised concerns about the implications for traffic in the area. The NCCC lodged a Submission noting that the Development Application had limited data to support the claim that any increase in traffic would be within the capacity of the local road network.
- NCCC Forums:A new feature has been added to the NCCC website to provide a platform for north Canberra residents to offer ideas and engage in discussion on ways to improve our area. To make a comment or create a new topic on the the NCCC forum page, click here.
You can find out more about new Development Applications in your area, including information on how to lodge a submission, by accessing this ACT Government website.
Local news and updates
- UNSW development: The University of New South Wales is set to open a new campus on the CIT site in Reid. Public consultation on the works, which are expected to commence in early 2022, is underway, with feedback sought directly to feedback@canberra.unsw.edu.au (which will inform the development of the community engagement report).
- Community Gardens Grants Program: Applications for Round Six of the Community Gardens Grants Program are now open (closing 29 June), with funds available in 2020-21 to support the expansion of community gardens across Canberra/
- New bus layover in Turner: The ACT Government is constructing a new bus layover in Turner in the existing dirt car park on the corner of Barry Drive and Watson Street. As part of the works, 60 car parking spaces will be removed. The Development Application for this project has been lodged and will be public in the coming weeks.
- Downer Community Association:As reported by Paul Costigan in the City News, the Downer Community Association has been taking part in ‘Florida Reimagined’ – a new initiative to create local pockets of Floriade across Canberra following the cancellation of the major event. Hundreds of bulbs will hopefully bloom this spring and further adorn the already picturesque Downer Shops.
- Lyneham Community Association: The Lyneham Association has recently refreshed and improved the look of its monthly newsletter, ‘The Lyneham Low-Down’ You can read about the latest goings-on in Lyneham in the May newsletter. If you live in Lyneham or North O’Connor and want to be put on the newsletter mailing list you can join the LCA here.
Treasurer’s Update
The NCCC Committee is currently finalising the approval process for the remaining funds for the 2019-20 financial year and considering the forward plan for the 2020-21 financial year.