2021-05-11
An ACT Greens motion in the Legislative Assembly today seeks to improve livability in Gungahlin as infill targets and affordable housing targets are achieved.
“We know that when people come together to discuss their vision for the place they call home, great things emerge,” said Andrew Braddock, MLA for Yerrabi and Greens spokesperson on Better Neighbourhoods.
“From my conversations with people in Gungahlin, they don’t want to live in a ‘dormitory region’ where they can sleep but do little else. They want a livable town centre with employment opportunities, green space and places to gather, as well as quality homes.”
The Greens want community views reflected in a comprehensive plan for the Gungahlin Town Centre to guide future land sales to developers.
“Vacant land in Gungahlin’s town centre is being sold off in pieces. There needs to be a comprehensive plan in place, reflecting what people in the local community want for their town centre,” Mr Braddock said.
“The Greens went to the election on a strong platform of building a better normal. Part of that is ensuring the development of this city meets community needs and that the community has a proper say.”
The Parliamentary and Governing Agreement includes commitments to:
- Facilitate residential development and housing supply while ensuring Canberra remains sustainable, liveable and attractive
- Improve community confidence in the planning system
- Lift the quality and sustainability of new developments
- Improve community consultation and involvement in the development of Canberra
- Ensure the planning system continues to deliver affordable housing
- Further refine land sale processes to allow major sites to be released for high-quality proposals, not just to the highest financial bidder.
“The ACT Government has united behind these goals in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement to deliver better planning outcomes, and therefore better social outcomes.
“We need to reconsider land sales in the Gungahlin Town Centre to ensure we make decisions now that will support our community’s wellbeing for decades to come,” Mr Braddock said.
The ACT Greens are launching a digital ‘possibilitree’ to collate community views on the future of Gungahlin. Mr Braddock has already been out in the electorate with a physical notice board. The digital notice board is now online at https://padlet.com/Andrew_Braddock_MLA/possibilitree
Background
- Government sought community views on the Gungahlin Town Centre Planning Refresh throughout 2017, 2018 and 2019 following poor planning outcomes in Gungahlin.
- As a result, a Draft Variation that would amend the Territory Plan was released in 2019, however the Gungahlin community still had concerns about the increase in mixed-use development at the expense of community space, green space and employment opportunities.
- Following the 2020 election, the Draft Variation is now the subject of an inquiry by the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services.
- A motion has already unanimously passed the Legislative Assembly this term, saying land sales for mixed-use development in the Gungahlin Town Centre should reflect best practice, including specific requirements to achieve a better balance of community, commercial and business uses.