A response from the ACT Government on Gungahlin Town Centre planning has been tabled in the Assembly today. While there are some improvements to how the town centre will be developed, Greens MLA Andrew Braddock says it does not go far enough.
“The Gungahlin community has very clearly said that they don’t want more apartments crowding out employment opportunities and community spaces”, said Mr Braddock.
“With Omicron and the rise of flexible work, now is the time for the ACT Government to think creatively about how to enliven, invigorate and populate the Gungahlin Town Centre. We should be looking at innovative ideas such as social enterprises, digital work hubs, innovation spaces, and vertical aged care facilities as ways to create community and employment opportunities in the Gungahlin Town Centre.
“There is also no reason why vacant spaces in Gungahlin can’t be used immediately for the benefit of the community. Homegrown organisations like The Mill House Ventures and Canberra’s many cooperatives already cultivate original employment opportunities that could utilise empty shop fronts.
“I’m not afraid to stand up and call out bad planning in my community when I see it. Gungahlin residents can trust that I will continue to advocate for them with future land sales and the Indicative Land Release Program. Together we can create a town centre that works for everyone.
Background:
- April 2021: The Suburban Land Authority announces the auction of two of Gungahlin’s last undeveloped sites in May 2021.
- June 2021: Mr Andrew Braddock’s motion passes through the ACT Legislative Assembly directing Suburban Land Agency “to structure all planned Gungahlin Town Centre land sales to ensure their primary purpose is employment generation, commercial and/or community facility use,”
- June 2021: A petition sponsored by Mr Braddock calling to stop all sales in Gungahlin until the community’s vision for Gungahlin is supported by Canberra’s territory plan closes with over 700 signatures.
- September 2021: The Planning, Transport, and City Services Committee recommends to: “apply a maximum number of residential dwellings and a minimum square metre requirement for commercial development permitted for each block to ensure that residential dwellings are not the primary or majority use.”
- February 2022: the government releases its response to the Planning Committee report.
