Page 1054 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2016
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In order to address residents’ concerns that this might effectively lead to an additional storey above the four storeys that has been set in the territory plan variation, in discussions with Minister Gentleman, he has agreed to include as part of the desired character statements that buildings predominantly engage at street level, avoiding large expanses of blank walls or grilled car parks.
There are also desired character statements in relation to sustainability and a diversity of housing choices, including opportunities to age in place. The existing open space bounded by Cygnet Crescent and Lady Nelson Place will be retained and, in addition, there will be requirements for open space areas within the development. The taller four-storey elements of the development will also focus on the centre of the site and adjacent to the existing commercial zone.
I will now outline the desired character statements that will be included in the technical amendment. The arrangements of buildings and spaces should enhance the solar access to landscaped areas, communal areas, private open space and public spaces on and surrounding the site. Development fronting the public realm and the landscape areas should address and enhance the quality and usability of the spaces. Building facades should be of a high quality finish, detailing and visually articulated to avoid a continuous wall of development and excessive bulk and scale and provide visual interest and differentiation. Buildings should predominantly engage at street level and avoid large expanses of blank walls or grilled car parks.
The taller building elements should be focused on the centre of the site and adjacent to the existing commercial zone. There should be provision of a range and diversity of housing choices, including opportunities to age in place. Landscaped areas between the buildings should be of high quality that link the overall development together and contribute to the amenity of the area. There should be a clear hierarchy of public and private zones through the site, with safe and attractive pedestrian areas.
There should be a high level of sustainability with a large percentage of the units facing north, and construction to achieve high energy performance ratings. Development should frame and address Lady Nelson park, section 40 Red Hill, and the landscape areas through visually interesting facades and providing passive surveillance. Development should provide interest and activities to the public realm through articulated facades to public spaces, avoiding solid, featureless walls of development.
Madam Speaker, I believe that, overall, the variation along with the technical amendment result in a good outcome for the community that will see quality urban infill, help ensure the sustainability of the Red Hill shops and potentially lead to further revitalisation of that site.
I note this has been a challenging debate, and I thank the residents of Red Hill for their active engagement in this process. I urge them to continue to follow the development as it proceeds. I certainly have been impressed by the detail in which they have examined the proposal, even if we have not always seen eye to eye on elements of the discussion. I am sure they will continue to be active on this issue and,
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