The GNCA does not have a position on the proposed Civic to Gungahlin Light Rail, but believes that before the Government commits the ACT to this project it needs to answer a number of questions.
The GNCA recently lodged a submission in response to DV327, which proposes re zoning a number of blocks along the proposed Light Rail route. Read the GNCA submission here.
Variation 306 commenced on 5 July 2013. All development applications submitted after 18 June 2013 will be assessed against the Territory Plan as amended by Variation 306 , whilst all development applications lodged before 18 June will be assessed under the rules applying before Variation came into effect until 5 July 2014. The Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development has issued a media release about the commencement of Variation 306, which is available at http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2013/variation-306-commences-5-july-2013.
Variation 306 introduces a number of changes to the Territory Plan. Amongst the changes introduced are:
Many of these changes have been a long time in gestation, as Draft Variation (DV) 306 is itself partly the product of merging earlier draft variations DV301 and DV303 which were withdrawn in June 2011.
The excessive size of the development for the Brumbies site has several flow-on effects. For instance visitor parking. The Parking and Vehicular Access (PVA) Code requires the provision of 0.25 of a visitor parking space for each apartment. For this site the developer needs to provide 33 visitor spaces. In fact only nine have been provided on site, and the Minister has reduced the requirement from 33 to 25. So what is the point of a code if it can be overruled at will?
The current proposal is for visitors to park on Austin Street, but these parking spaces already exist, so it cannot be said they will be provided by the developer. As a result, the developer will not have to fund a further 16 (or 24 to comply with the code) visitor parking spaces. The public has been deprived of these spaces in the street and the developer has been effectively subsidised by the public.
With visitors parking in Austin St it will look like this.
M16 Artspace is a wonderful community facility located in the Blaxland Centre on Blaxland Crescent, Griffith. Local residents remember with regret the loss of the old Griffith Library but are now delighted with the conversion of the building into a lively artists space with regular exhibitions and other community activities.
M16 Artspace provided the fantastic venue for the 2013 Centenary Street Party on 18 May.
GNCA is pleased to link in with M16 and provide information about exhibitions on this website: check out the link here http://www.m16artspace.com.au
On 5 March 2013 the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, approved Draft Variation 306 (thereby transforming it into Variation 306) and tabled it in the Legislative Assembly. On Tuesday 9 April the Liberals moved a motion of disallowance in relation to DV 306. The motion was debated and defeated on Wednesday 8 May 2013. The Minister has yet to notify a commencement date, but this is expected to be soon.
Variation 306 introduces a number of changes to the Territory Plan. Amongst the changes introduced are:
Many of these changes have been a long time in gestation, as Draft Variation (DV) 306 is itself partly the product of merging earlier draft variations DV301 and DV303 which were withdrawn in June 2011.
The ACT Assembly Standing committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services has released its report on Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No 306 – Residential development, estate development and leasing codes. You can read the report at
http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/373660/PPW15_DV306.pdf
The GNCA has examined the 21 recommendations. We support some of the recommendations, but regard others as misguided. You can read our views here: GNCA comments on DV306 Inquiry recommendations.
Shane Rattenbury, the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, was very pleased to launch Canberra’s newest park, Blaxland Park, at our Centenary Street Party on 18 May at the M16 (Blaxland Centre). He was also delighted that Gregory Blaxland’s great-great-great grandson, John Blaxland joined in the announcement. Read the full media release here.
Apart from the issues reported on in the posts below, the Association is involved in the following activities and issues:
To read further about these issues, click here.
DV 306 has been approved by Minister Corbell and was tabled in the Assembly on 5 March 2013. The Liberals moved a motion of disallowance on Tuesday 9 April 2013. If the matter is not debated and the disallowance motion defeated within 5 sitting days the Variation will lapse. It seems likely that the Government will use its majority to prevent this happening. Further details are available here.