Recommendations handed to the ACT Government yesterday by the Legislative Assembly’s Planning Committee echo community and Greens calls to make Gungahlin a truly liveable town centre, not just another suburb with some shops.
“During the committee inquiry the community clearly called for more employment opportunities, a greater say for local people, and better connections with green space and Yerrabi Pond,” said Member for Yerrabi Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens spokesperson on Better Neighbourhoods.
“Individuals in the community, the Gungahlin Community Council and the Greens have consistently called for a liveable and vibrant Gungahlin. One that meets the needs of the community including employment opportunities, green spaces, entertainment, and community facilities.
“The Government rightly has targets to stop urban sprawl and increase affordable housing, but it has been so focussed on building apartments that it has forgotten what makes a community work.
“The Indicative Land Release Program and the land sales process has repeatedly encouraged residential buildings to squeeze out community facilities, commercial investment, and employment-generation in the Gungahlin Town Centre.
“I will continue to advocate in public, private, and in the Assembly for an innovative, whole-of-government approach to create a Gungahlin Town Centre that is a hub of commercial and community activity.
“It will take imagination, combined with creative and cooperative conversations with locals, to create a Gungahlin Town Centre where people can live, work and thrive in a diverse, connected community.
“I am really happy with the recommendations from this report and look forward to working with the ACT Government, to walk the walk and deliver these changes for a better future for Gungahlin.”
The Planning Committee report is available at: https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/committees/ptcs/inquiry-into-draft-variation-364-gungahlin-town-centre#tab1745147-5id
