Page 2236 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 August 2015

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Changes were made to variation 347 in response to the comments made. Two of the major changes were a limit on the overall scale of non-university-related office space to 30,000 square metres for the entire site, and a limit on the scale of produce market to offset the concerns raised about undermining the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets.

I am confident that the changes made to variation 347 satisfy the community’s concerns and protect the Belconnen town centre, particularly from the perceived economic impacts detailed in some submissions. I would like to assure the community that through the upcoming Belconnen town centre master plan process the connections between the university and the town centre are at the centre of any plans for the town centre and its ongoing prosperity.

The University of Canberra master plan illustrates the desire for greater linkages and integration with the Belconnen town centre. Variation 347 implements the key recommendations of this master plan. Further development of the University of Canberra and the planned increase in campus population will provide for a more vibrant university and town centre.

Finalisation of variation 347 will allow the Belconnen master planning process to respond more accurately to development at the University of Canberra. Variation 347 is the culmination of a suite of legislative changes to the laws which govern the University of Canberra. Variation 347 formalises many of the uses currently allowed on the campus, thereby streamlining the development application process.

It also allows the university to provide high quality facilities, promote knowledge sharing and create a strong nexus with industry. These changes will ensure the national and international competitiveness and viability of the University of Canberra, and that our city remains a smart city attracting the best minds locally and from abroad.

The final variation in this set of variations is variation 321 Pialligo. Variation 321 implements key recommendations of the Pialligo master plan. The variation includes a range of amendments to the Pialligo precinct map and code. The variation will protect the agricultural character of the area while encouraging low-scale agricultural-related commercial development close to Beltana Road, to build on the existing character.

Variation 321 achieves this through defining an area within 60 metres of Beltana Road where moderately increased levels of ancillary development are permitted; restricting the levels of ancillary development in areas further away from Beltana Road to protect the agricultural land from overdevelopment; ensuring agricultural uses are not overly constrained by new residential development on adjoining blocks; including provisions to assist in the protection of unearthed archaeological artefacts if they are discovered in the course of undertaking an approved development; and controlling uses that are considered less compatible with the desired character of the area to where they are currently permitted.


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