Page 252 - Week 01 - Thursday, 12 February 2015
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and pay-by-phone technology. A smart parking trial will be an opportunity to work with local businesses and the community and to test and seek feedback on the new technology. A tender process to replace on-street parking meters with new ticket machines that accept credit cards and pay by phone is currently underway. And last Friday the Chief Minister invited Canberrans to have their say on smart parking. I encourage people to visit timetotalk.act.gov.au to have their say.
Stage 1 of the capital metro light rail network has been chosen for a number of reasons, but, importantly, for the pivotal role it will play in rejuvenating Northbourne Avenue and the city centre. Light rail is the only transport mode that has, in other cities, consistently demonstrated this urban renewal benefit. Urban renewal and transformation along the transport corridor is expected to drive new opportunities for other parts of the city such as employment and investment. Analysis from the global firm Ernst & Young indicates that the government’s light rail investment will create over 3,500 jobs during construction and potentially 50,000 jobs over 30 years.
There are many other projects that are contributing to the revitalisation of the city. These include Digital Canberra, providing free public wi-fi in the city, redevelopment in Braddon and the work of Canberra CBD Ltd arranging public events and programs such as skate in the city, Christmas in the city and bud lighting and flower displays.
Returning to the city plan, I am pleased to report that well-respected urban design firm Hassell has been engaged to lead a team of consultants and prepare an urban design framework and a transport and movement action plan for the city. This work will guide the development of high quality building and capital works across the city, particularly for gateway sites around City Hill and the Sydney and Melbourne buildings. It will present options to reduce through traffic in the city centre whilst identifying strategies for the management of parking and the improvement of public transport and active mode linkages to, from and across the city centre.
In conjunction with this work, an economic development analysis is underway to encourage new development, redevelopment and reuse of existing buildings across the city centre. These projects have been undertaken in conjunction with the urban design framework for the city and Northbourne Avenue corridor so that an urban design framework, including built form guidelines, will address both the city centre and this important gateway to the city.
Engagement with local stakeholders is key to the preparation of the framework, and there have been a number of forums in recent months where the city centre revitalisation has been a key topic. These include the recent Radio National forum and in late November a Property Council workshop that discussed city transformation. The urban design framework is responding to the messages from these forums and from consultation associated with the city plan, city to the lake and capital metro. In addition, targeted consultation is planned at key stages in preparing the framework.
The Environment and Planning Directorate will be holding facilitated workshops and design charrettes with key stakeholders, including community and business group representatives. The first workshop is planned for the first quarter of 2015. An additional workshop is planned midyear, and formal community engagement on the draft documents is proposed later in the year.
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