Page 1907 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
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existing uses and for future recreation, entertainment, arts and community facilities in the Woden centre.
Existing pressure, as we know, is for commercial offices and high-end residential development. Rezoning the land from entertainment, accommodation and leisure to commercial, as this variation does, will result in these blocks being developed to the maximum permitted level. We should have no doubt about that. One day, the Burnie Court site nearby will be developed. Already east Woden is being filled in with substantial accommodation; nearby, the southern parts of Molonglo will be developed very soon. There will be more and more people using the Woden centre as their town centre. There is no community centre at Woden and there is no arts centre—or even plans for an arts centre. This variation to the territory plan will rule out the community development strategy including appropriate activities and facilities from now on.
Woden residents feel as though they have been treated as the poor relations in Molonglo; this variation ensures that they remain so. It would not be too great a problem for the government to withdraw this variation, to do some specific consultation on the framework for future provisions and to demonstrate that the stripped back community engagement strategy inherent in the new planning legislation might be able to deliver something that is fair for all. Underpinning any notion of partnership in development has to be respectful relationships.
The actual process is described by the Woden community council—the only community group that has been given status in consultation on planning issues in Woden but that has been ignored in this case—in its letter to the minister. Let me read some of these points. There is no doubt that the Woden Valley Community Council is a very well run community council and one that previously the government has praised. The council wrote this letter addressed to Mr Barr after the representatives of the council met with him to discuss this final recommended variation. As always, the council appreciated that opportunity; they wanted to suggest some possible ways forward. This is not a community council that is in the business of embarrassing the government; this is a community council that has always worked with government to the best of its ability. The letter says:
Woden Valley Community Council has been involved in the development of the Woden Town Centre (WTC) Master Planning Process for some six years and very considerable community voluntary time and effort has been invested in attempting to achieve a balanced and liveable town centre. WVCC has been supportive of the rejuvenation of the Phillip Mixed Services area, the continued office development, the new high rise residential development—
yes, they even approved Sky Plaza—
and of major residential developments in Woden East and on the former Burnie Court site.
While being supportive of commercial, office and residential development in WTC, WVCC has also attempted to ensure a balanced community outcome for our WTC by also keeping the need for an upgrade of community facilities and for a Community/Cultural/ Arts Centre on the agenda.
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