New Canberra Suburb + More Density

[Jimmy James]

New suburb near wetlands
By Scott Hannaford, Assembly Reporter
Friday, 5 March 2004

Land next to the Jerrabomberra wetlands in Fyshwick is to be set aside for development of a major residential area of up to 4000 houses stretching from Kingston to the Monaro Highway.

The development, tentatively named as the East Basin Urban Renewal Project, would incorporate the Fyshwick markets and the Canberra Institute of Technology and forms one of the key planks in the ACT Government's Spatial Plan, to be detailed today.

The area would become the focus of intense planning to increase density and the wetlands could also be expanded to form a green feature alongside the area.

Four months after the issuing of the draft Spatial Plan, the final version of the Government's vision for the future of the city is expected to adopt a development zone with a circle of 7.5km radiating from the city centre. The area will progressively be filled in with higher-density housing and businesses over the next 30 years, with the goal of limiting development to within a 15km radius of Civic.

Along with the East Basin, the plan is expected to make Northbourne Avenue and the streets surrounding it the main area of focus for increasing the density of the city, leading to a more compact, highly populated inner city.

While detailed planning of the East Basin project is yet to come, it is anticipated the zone could become a mix of residential, business and nature reserve. The area has been earmarked as one of the highest priorities for the Government, meaning the detailed planning stage would be completed within 2-3 years.

Planning Minister Simon Corbell said the development could be based on a similar model to the Sydney Olympic Park, an urban development within a wetlands area that was recognised internationally for its environmental sensitivity.

"A key issue for the investigation will be the relationship between the site and the Jerrabomberra wetlands. The wetlands, probably one of the few urban wetlands in Australia, provide an important ecological resource for the territory ... it is therefore imperative that the conservation values of the site are retained," Mr Corbell said.

Water flowing into the area would be treated in a series of ponds that would form further water areas within the wetlands.

The area is in a prime inner-south location with water frontage, but Mr Corbell denied it would become the exclusive domain of wealthy Canberrans.

"It is close to the airport, the markets, schools, shops, the area will create a lot of interest and I'm sure a lot of people will want to live there ... it is an ideal location for expanding the city. There will be areas that cater [to the high end of the market] but the Government wants this to be an area that is accessible for all. Affordable housing will definitely be part of the picture and, together with the Kingston Foreshores, it will be an important area for the entire community to enjoy," he said.

He said there would be a commitment to include public housing in the planning of the area. The proposal will be subject to the approval of the Commonwealth Government, as it will require a change to both the Territory Plan and the National Capital Plan, but Mr Corbell said he was confident the vision presented in the Spatial Plan would become reality. "Make no mistake, the [ACT] Government wants to do this, and we will be making funding available for the next level of detailed planning in the Budget," he said.

The Spatial Plan will be made public this morning. See tomorrow's Canberra Times for detailed coverage.

[steve_nova]

Canberra: the year 2030
By Scott Hannaford and Lucy Gibson
Saturday, 6 March 2004

Up to 20,000 new homes will be built in the Molonglo Valley to Canberra's west as part of a bold new vision for the future shape of the city that sees it eventually supporting half a million people.

ACT Planning Minister Simon Corbell unveiled the Government's much- anticipated Spatial Plan yesterday, setting out the broad framework for urban expansion of the city for the next 30 years.

As foreshadowed in the November draft version, the Stromlo pine forests virtually destroyed in the January 2003 bushfires will make way for a major new city sector to cater to a possible ACT population of up to 500,000 by 2032. Gungahlin is also to be completed as a priority.

Land to the east of the city at Kowen will be kept in reserve for housing, and the inner city and transport corridors leading from it to the town centres will be progressively filled-in to create a more compact city, concentrated around a 7.5km circle radiating from Civic.

Businesses will be encouraged to move back into Civic through streamlining of the planning process and the number of people living in the city centre is expected to grow steadily.

The Kingston Foreshore will be extended towards Fyshwick in a new development known as the East Basin Redevelopment Project, which would see up to 4000 houses built around the Fyshwick markets, CIT and next to the Jerrabomberra wetlands.

A noise-protection zone will be established around the airport, preventing housing under flight paths, and a low-light zone will be set up around Mount Stromlo observatory to protect it from upward light pollution.

Development will also be concentrated at transport nodes in the new areas of Molonglo and the airport and existing town centres.

The urban area will be encircled by a bushfire- abatement zone which will have strict guidelines to protect houses from the threat of fire.

Mr Corbell said the plan was the result of listening to the wishes of Canberrans and incorporating that into a vision for a future city that did not sprawl beyond its borders.

The plan contained real time-lines, and work was already under way to realise the vision. Funding for detailed planning work would be part of the next Budget.

"You can't just build a new suburb overnight, but we've already advertised for a detailed planning area of Molonglo. Time-frames are there in the plan. This is a very significant piece of work," Mr Corbell said.

The National Capital Authority gave its blessing to the East Basin project, saying it was very close to Walter Burley Griffin's original plans for the area, but it was non-committal on the issue of Molonglo. The NCA has entered into a joint study of the area with the ACT Government, and its approval would be required for much of the work in the Spatial Plan to commence.

The building industry, Canberra Airport and several welfare groups welcomed the plan yesterday.

Executive officer of ACT Shelter Annette Wade said the organisation was fully supportive of any measures that increased the supply of houses in the national capital.

"We would now like to see low-income houses in well- resourced parts of Canberra, particularly along North- bourne and the employment corridors," Ms Wade said.

Director of the ACT Council of Social Services Daniel Stubbs said he was pleased the Government had made some reference to affordable housing, but was unhappy about the lack of reference to publicly funded housing. "Affordable housing is such a loose and amorphous term," he said.

Mr Stubbs said he was concerned that no reference had been made to difficult-to-place facilities, such as drug and alcohol facilities and women's refuges, but was pleased with efforts to encourage more people to use public transport.

The Opposition and planning experts warned that the Government would need to proceed with great care and make highly detailed studies to ensure the environment at the Jerrabomberra wetlands and Molonglo Valley were not damaged by the development, and to ensure the city's character was not lost in the infill process.

The Conservation Council said although it supported development in the East Basin, it was concerned about the effect it could have on a number of rare and threatened bird species.

[steve_nova]

At long last!

[finn]

Thanks for posting these articles guys! I absolutely love reading about this sort of stuff! :D

It demonstrates the fantastic advantage to a city like Canberra, of being small (but not too small) in size and growing at a moderate rate, and being able to plan to a high degree and truly determine the direction and type of growth that the city wants - a true plan for the future.

Oh yeah, and if anyone has access to this:

"The Spatial Plan will be made public this morning. See tomorrow's Canberra Times for detailed coverage."

Could they please post it? Thanks! :)

[staminous]

I have already read the newly released Canberra Spatial Plan.


It is a complete plan for the entire urban area of Canberra for the next 30 years.


Main points are:

Complete Gungahlin township (to the north) over the next ten years. 2015 With the possibility of a light rail extension from Gungahlin towncentre, down Northobourne Avenue to the city centre.

Totally erradicate existing pockets of Pine Plantations!! To avoid possible future threat from bushfires. Build a 1.5km wide Bushfire Clearance zone to encircle the entire metropolitan area!! (over the top)


Establish the new towns of Molonglo Valley, and Kowen from 2015 to 2030 respectively, on land currently occupied by the Molonglo and Kowen Forrest Pine Plantations.



Encourage higher density development along Northbourne Avenue, and the inner north, and higher density and waterfront development along Lake Burley Griffin's East basin, from the kington forshore to fyshwick, in the city's inner south.



There is also an ACT government proposal to develop and extend the city centre beyond it's freeways to the lakefront, by building major Public buildings, a piazza, retail and eating facilities to form a waterside promenade along Lake Burley Griffin's West basin.



Keep all future urban development within the ACT's borders (and to not overspill into nsw). All future urban developments to be no further than 15 km from the city centre!!!



In general, under the Spatial Plan, Canberra will become a more compact, higher density city, with a dominant cityheart -and way less forrest!!



..interestingly, The Spatial Plan shows a High Speed Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor connecting with the Canberra suburbs, but leaving south. ..Suggesting the alternative Gippsland overland route (as oposed to the preferred Hume Hwy route!!!)



The Canberra Spatial Plan completely replaces the old Y-Axis Plan that has been in place since the late 1970s.



You can read the plan and see maps at:


www.actpla.act.gov.au/plandev/sp-intro/



( or go to www.act.gov.au ..and do a search)



and also


www.kingstonforeshore.com.au

[finn]

Thanks for the summary staminous - I think this is a really positive move for Canberra - higher density and more compact! It's always felt like a giant sprawling suburb (which essential it is at the moment).

Also, getting rid of the pine plantations is a good idea. I'm not speaking in terms of the fire risk, but more in reference to the fact that it is the national capital, and should be dominated by native plant species, indigenous to the area, rather than plantations of foreign vegetation.

[steve_nova]

Thanks for that staminous and thanks for the link to the spatial plan too :okay:

[steve_nova]

Facelift for city's lake edge - Revival of Burley Griffin's plan
By Peter Brewer
Monday, 20 September 2004

An extensive, multi-million-dollar plan to revitalise the eastern edge of the city and northern lake shore will be revealed by the National Capital Authority - but not until after the ACT elections.

The NCA is keeping details of the plans secret for fear of breaching the caretaker provisions of government during the lead- up to the elections, but insiders have described it as "potentially the most important change to the city plan in 80 years".

The scope of the plan, which aims to put a modern interpretation to Walter Burley Griffin's design, is seen as more broad- reaching than either the National Capital Development Commission's 1965 outlook The Future Canberra or its 1970 proposal, Tomorrow's Canberra.

The Canberra Times understands that part of the Griffin Legacy project will revive the spirit of the American designer's 1912 vision for the national capital by revitalising Constitution Avenue as a broad boulevard in the Parisian style, lined by shops, outdoor cafes and apartments.

The second key element of the plan is expected to involve the creation of extensive land "bridges" over Parkes Way to provide easier pedestrian access to the northern parts of the lake shore and Commonwealth Park from Civic.

Building the bridges would demand the "sinking" of extended sections of Parkes Way, for many years regarded by NCA planners as unsympathetic to Griffin's design. This reshaping of the eastern edge of Civic would mirror a similar plan, already announced, for the western side of City Hill, called the City West project.

The Griffin Legacy project is seen as the NCA's response to stinging criticism issued by former planning commissioner Tony Powell 10 days ago, describing the "deteriorating physical fabric" of the city.

Mr Powell said that since the opening of Parliament House in 1988, the Commonwealth's building program had virtually dried up and only one new national institution, the National Museum, had been built since then.

He said only two prime ministers had shown an interest in advancing Canberra - Sir Robert Menzies and Gough Whitlam.

He also regarded Prime Minister John Howard's decision not to live in The Lodge as "a serious blow" to the prestige of the national capital, and sent a signal to other ministers, the Public Service and the community that the city was "not worthy of special treatment".

The Griffin Legacy project has been developed over several years by NCA cultural adviser David Headon, with principal urban designers Ian Wood-Bradley and Stuart Mackenzie.

The plan has the support of two of Canberra's most influential architects, who are excited at the prospect of a new vision for the capital.

Colin Stewart, a co-designer of the ACT Magistrates Court and the Kingston Foreshore development, said revitalisation of Constitution Avenue was long overdue and "a wonderful idea". "It's a piece of land that was always intended [by Griffin] to be built up [with residences]," he said.

"Griffin always intended for Constitution Avenue to be this broad, tree-lined esplanade linked with Russell, where people lived and worked and there were exciting things going on."

"I think it's fabulous that this is being looked at because we just can't keep expanding the suburbs further and further out.

"It's a real challenge to build in the city and not make it a concrete jungle. Although we're only a small city ... it's important to have people living closer in to the city because with that influx of people comes energy and vitality."

President of the ACT chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Catherine Townsend believes there is a need to "fill in" some of the gaps in Civic - and reviving Griffin's plan for Constitution Avenue would drive that process along.

[GMAC]

That is all fantastic news and will really open Canberra up. I would say that over the next 10 to 20 years the somewhat negative impression many people have of Canberra will change and it probably will become one of the trendiest cities in Australia to live in.

[Auxodium]

why to me Canberra is too far sprawled, the city centre needs to be (built for a start!) :D consolidated and then the outward development can start.

[ParraMan]

Great stuff, I too love reading about this sort of stuff! Thanks for the link to the spatial plan, makes for some very interesting reading. Although it struck me first as a bit strange to see no "town centre" for the new Molonglo area, it is actually good to see that it will link more in with Belconnen and Woden and give these areas a boost, Canberra does not need any more decentralisation.

Has the Gungahlin Hwy/Freeway sort thing started construction yet?

[natnul]

I just came back from a trip to Canberra with my girlfriend. It was our second trip in under a year to Canberra. We both have fallen in love with the city. There were quite a few parts like the Manuka area that made me feel like I was back in inner East Melbourne (Chadstone, Toorak, Caulfield,etc). I bought the book The Griffin Legacy from the National Museum. Its got pictures and the whole vision for the city. Beautiful book. Canberra has so much potential. It can be such a unique city compared to other Australian cities. So many ideas were popping into my head everytime we were driving around for the potential development of this place. The government would be crazy not to see this. I would love to move here, except my girlfriend and I are involved in the Music and Arts industries, which I found to be pretty limited here at this point of time, career wise. Melbourne is the home for both of these industries in Australia.

[Blue_Copper]

great news

[nsn]

Has the Gungahlin Hwy/Freeway sort thing started construction yet?

To answer your question (albeit long after you asked it), they cut down all the trees along the route and were preparing to start construction, and then the Save the Ridge group that is opposing it won yet another day in court to try and get the building of this road stopped. Don't know when the result will be known.

[ParraMan]

To answer your question (albeit long after you asked it), they cut down all the trees along the route and were preparing to start construction, and then the Save the Ridge group that is opposing it won yet another day in court to try and get the building of this road stopped. Don't know when the result will be known.

Cool, thanks for answering!! It seems they have been arguing about this for a number of years, if I recall correctly, when I was in Canberra 4 or 5 years ago they were discussing it, wonder if it will ever really happen?

Didn't mention it before, but is great to see such ambitious plans for our capital.