Page 1330 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 5 May 2015
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community organisations. In 2011 the government and CHC Affordable Housing Canberra started talking to the Downer community about the redevelopment of the site. Through that process various options and concept proposals showing how the site could be developed were discussed. This resulted in a planning report which was submitted to the Environment and Planning Directorate to inform the preparation of a variation.
When variation 322 was released for statutory public comment between 7 November and 19 December 2014 it attracted 21 public submissions, with concerns focusing on the height of the buildings, the proposed density of the site and potential traffic and parking impacts.
A number of changes have been made to variation 322 in response to the issues raised in those submissions. These changes include a statement of desired character, additional setback requirements designed to protect the heritage trees, capping the maximum number of dwellings at 300, as well as mandating public access for the roads into the site. These changes seek to implement tighter controls to better manage the future redevelopment of the site and to address any potential impacts arising from the development of the site. I am glad these changes have been implemented to ensure that we have been able to take into account community views.
As there were underground fuel tanks on the site it was deemed necessary to remediate the grounds so that they were suitable for residential development. This has been completed. An assessment was also carried out of the site on which the Downer community centre is located. The reports on both sites have been endorsed by the Environment Protection Agency. The report on consultation prepared for variation 322 responds in full to the issues raised in the submissions and by the EPA.
Under section 73 of the Planning and Development Act I exercised my discretion and did not refer the variation to the Standing Committee on Planning, Environment and Territory and Municipal Services as I believed there were no outstanding issues. Officers from EPD also met recently with members of the standing committee on the omnibus variation sites and I understand that no issues were raised in regard to the Downer site.
I believe that draft variation 322 will bring a range of benefits to the suburb of Downer as well as to the surrounding area. It will increase the range of housing choice in Downer, providing people, including Downer residents, with housing that is better suited to their needs and that is easier and more efficient to maintain. The proposal will also positively impact upon the Downer local centre, which has been under-utilised for some time now.
More broadly, the redevelopment of this site is consistent with the government’s key priority of urban renewal. This can mean better shopping centres, better walking and cycling connections, better community spaces and, through this, stronger communities. Taking advantage of urban renewal opportunities will deliver greater density around those centres of community, making them more livable, more accessible and, importantly, viable.
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