Redevelopment of the Australian Heritage Village in Watson (DV261)

The Watson Community Association has concerns with regard to the proposed redevelopment of the the “Australian Heritage Village” as described in Territory Plan (Draft) Variation 261. A summary of the Draft Variation 261 as originally proposed was as follows:

“Draft Variation 261 proposed the following:Summary of the Proposal Part Block 2, Blocks 3 and 5 Section 75 are currently subject to the Entertainment, Accommodation and Leisure land use policies under the Territory Plan. Block 3 Section 75 Watson is currently known as the Australian Heritage Village, which was originally built as a tourist facility and now would require refurbishment to operate as originally intended. The proposal is to redevelop Block 3 and part of Block 2, which is contiguous to Block 3 as medium density residential development with different levels of affordable housing types.

Part Block 2 is currently unleased Territory Land. The ACT Government has approved a direct grant of part Block 2 to the Lessees of Block 3 subject to the outcome of this Territory Plan variation process. Part Block 2 is identified as not having significant ecological values and not part of the adjacent Nature Reserve and is also land locked. It is therefore more logical to develop Block 3 and part Block 2 together.

Block 5 Section 75 Watson is currently zoned as Entertainment, Accommodation and Leisure land use policy however this site has memorial plantings and is managed by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TaMS). It is therefore considered that this draft variation provides an opportunity to rezone this site appropriately according to its intended use, as Urban Open Space.“

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The Watson Community Association Inc. has made the  following submissions to ACTPLA  in regard to Draft Variation

WCA submission DV261
This document is the written submission presented to ACTPLA by the Watson Community Association in response to Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No. 261 gazetted October 2007. DV261 refers to the Australian Heritage Village which occupies Block 3 Section 75 in Watson, and also includes part of Block 2 Section 75 and Block 5 Section 75 Watson to the east and north of the Australian Heritage Village. The variation proposes to change the land use from Entertainment, Accommodation and Leisure Land Use Policies to Residential Land Use Policy. The Watson Community Association formally responded to DV261 in February 2008.

DV261 APPENDIX 1
This document was attached as Appendix 1 in the submission to Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No. 261 presented to ACTPLA by the Watson Community Association in February 2008. It is an excerpt from a report entitled Preliminary Ecological Assessment North Watson prepared by David Hogg Pty. Ltd. on behalf of Ove Arup and Partners Pty Ltd and written and in October 1992.

DV261 APPENDIX 2
This document was attached as Appendix 2 in the submission to Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No. 261 presented to ACTPLA by the Watson Community Association in February 2008. The document is entitled Cultural Heritage Values of Part Block 2 & Block 3, Section 75, Watson (‘Canberry Fair’, renamed ‘Australian Heritage Village’). It is an interim report prepared on behalf of the Watson Community Association Inc. by National Heritage Consultants date January 2008. It includes descriptions and photographs of the buildings in the Australian Heritage Village complex.

DV261 APPENDIX 3
This document was attached as Appendix 3 in the submission to Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No. 261 presented to ACTPLA by the Watson Community Association in February 2008. This document is entitled Table 1 Tree Assessment Block 3 and Part Block 2 – South of Car Park. It is a table constructed from a tree survey conducted on behalf of the proponent. The proposal contains endemic woodland contiguous with the Canberra Nature Reserve. The area covers more than 0.5 ha, and since this woodland is part of the endangered Yellow Box/Red Gum ecosystem, may be notifiable under the terms of the commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The WCA also made the following submission in regard to Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No.261 to the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee for Planning and Environment:

• Summary of submission to Standing Committee regarding DV261
• Full Submission to Standing Committee regarding DV261

The full completed inquiries, papers and reports completed by the Standing Committee can be read be following the following link to the  Standing Committee on Planning and Environment.

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The Variation to the Territory plan was subsequently passed and a copy can be found here:  Planning and Development (Plan Variation No 261) Notice 2009.

Subsequent to the variation of the Territory Plan a development application was lodged in October 2009 for the site:

Multiple responses to the development Application (DA 200915605) were made by a number of  local groups:

• Watson Community Association Submission
• Friends of Mount Majura Submission
• North Canberra Community Council Submission