Petition – developments of inappropriate scale

A petition has been raised with the primary aim of demonstrating that the Canberra community at large is opposed to developments of massively inappropriate scale. It is based on the proposed Easty Street redevelopment in Woden but this is also an example of what has already happened elsewhere in Canberra, and will continue to happen in other neighbourhoods unless more and more in the community start telling the government they have different thoughts about what is acceptable and desirable for the future development of the “bush capital”. The online “Easty Street” petition is e-petition number 025-18 listed at https://epetitions.act.gov.au/CurrentEPetitions.aspx.

Drone Delivery Systems in the ACT

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism is calling for submissions to its inquiry into drone delivery systems in the ACT.

Jeremy Hanson MLA, Chair of the Committee, said that, “the trial of drone deliveries in Bonython will end shortly and Project Wing, the company running the trial, has announced that it intends to begin deliveries to the suburbs around Mitchell. The Assembly has asked the Committee to look at a number of aspects of the trial, including the economic impact on the Territory, the environmental impact on residents and animals, regulatory oversight of the drones and information privacy.”

The full terms of reference for the inquiry are available on the Assembly’s website. Written submissions should be lodged by close of business on 22 February 2019.

IGPA Canberra Conversation on Planning

A video of this talk held on 10 September in the Albert Hall is now available at:

Hawker Tennis Centre Rezoning

Due to a lack of interest from anyone qualified to run such an operation, the tennis centre closed down in 2012.  It is now owned by investors who are consulting the community on how the 12,699 sq.m. site can be used.

An information display will be held at the Tennis Centre in Walhallow Street from 4.30-6.30 pm on Wed 28 March.  Members of the public are welcome to drop in at any time during this period to discuss the proposal with Purdon’s project team.  An advanced presentation was provided to the committee on Thursday evening and to the Belconnen Community Council on Tuesday.

At present, the site is zoned PRZ2 – for Restricted Access Recreation.  At the front is a government-owned public car park and in the western corner is a block of unleased Territory land that is used for an overflow gravel car park during major sporting competitions.  The proposal is to include both the public car park and the gravel car park, presuming alternative parking arrangements can be provided for major sporting events.

The lease has already been varied to allow a child care centre to be built on the site.  The intention now is to change the zoning from recreation to Community Facilities with a residential overlay for medium-density housing.  The indicative concept plan below does not represent a specific development proposal.

 Some concerns to consider are:

1. the continuing loss of sporting facilities/space across Canberra as the population is growing;
2. the density of possible proposed housing – 58 two-storeyed terrace houses, each row separated by a six-metre wide driveway;
3. the loss of trees – replaced by building and paving;
4. the setting of a precedent to erode what is currently a large, uniform area of sporting space in the district;
5. the possibility that the bowling club might follow suit.

Please send us your bright ideas of how this excellent site might best be used.

RZ2 Public meeting

Macquarie residents in the RZ2 suburban area designated for redevelopment and densification are holding a public meeting to discuss issues of relevance to all residents of those areas across Canberra.

When:  Monday 18 December from 5.30 pm to 7 pm-ish

Where:  Macquarie Primary School Hall

All are welcome to attend.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Further  to our previous report, on 5 December a Notice of Reconsideration was received for the three blocks on Belconnen Way, Weetangera, near Springvale Drive.  This involves a totally new design for eight two storey townhouses in semi-detached pairs around a central driveway.  This could be expected to require lodgment of a complete new development application rather than reconsideration under the original DA which was rejected on 23 June 2017.  Comments on the reconsideration close on 4 January!

On 12 December, a Notice of Decision was received for the DA at 9 Smith St, Weetangera.  This involves two blocks at a bend in Smith St with minimal road frontage.  The number of dwellings has been reduced from 15 to 14.  Other minor changes have been made to address the various issues raised during consultation.  Further review can be requested within 28 days of the date of the notice which was 7 December, thus taking the request period up to 4 January!

150 Belconnen Way, Scullin Update

This has been a good month in that the ACT Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal has released their decision on 150 Belconnen Way, Scullin – http://acat.act.gov.au/decisions/javelin-projects-pty-ltd-v-act-planning-and-land-authority-and-anor.

The Tribunal agreed with our concern that it was over-development of the block and not appropriate for that part of the suburb.  The DA was rejected.  Unfortunately, the Tribunal did not address the question of the particular building type that is unique to this part of Canberra and results in odd blocks being classified as multi-unit dwelling blocks.  Our battle to have the definition of a single dwelling block changed will have to continue.

Belconnen Way, Weetangera development

Hi there,

I thought I would send The Friends of Hawker Village a huge Congratulatory Thankyou Message on your success in preventing the large proposed unit block being offered on three blocks of land facing Belconnen Way between Springvale Drive and the Ellen Clark Park.

This area is one of my ‘dog walking’ routes and I have been non too happy to see the large For Sale sign advertising what a developer could build on these three blocks.  Last Monday I noticed a lot of activity at each of the three houses and thought “oh dear, looks like the properties are being cleared for demolition”, walking towards Springvale Drive I noticed a chap putting framework around a gravel parking area on the nature strip in front of the house closest to Springvale Drive, so I commented saying “looks as though the apartments are going ahead”.  I had to keep a very straight face when he answered “No, thanks to the Friends of Hawker Village, we now have to renovate each house so that we can put them on the market as individual properties”.  He wasn’t bitter, he said he could see both sides of the story.  I wanted to jump for joy!!!

Well done Friends of Hawker Village.  Keep up the great work,

Jan

A resident of Hawker for 35 years.

Escalation of densification

At the end of last year, FoHV lodged an objection to a Development Application to build six two-storeyed townhouses at 150 Belconnen Way, Scullin which currently contains a house-sized building comprising a residence and flat.  At the beginning of this year, we received the Notice of Decision for the Scullin proposal which was rejected on the grounds cited by us and other local residents.  This decision is available on our website at www.friendsofhawkervillage.com, under DAs/Scullin.  We have now applied to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal to be joint parties with ACTPLA in defending their decision.  If the decision is overturned, this will set a precedent for similar blocks to be redeveloped in this way with major ramifications for the suburbs of Page, Scullin and Weetangera as well as for traffic safety on Belconnen Way.

It is also pleasing to see that The Olive restaurant is being well-patronised.  This development was first heralded after FoHV wrote to the owner of the building two years ago about the run-down appearance of the building and the depressing effect of the two empty shops (former dry cleaners and video store). The restaurant has provided a welcome lift to the Hawker Village.

Also of local interest is this article on Ron’s Bookshop: http://citynews.com.au/2017/pages-running-rons-story/

Charity bin removal possible

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-government-considers-removing-charity-bins-after-shocking-mess-20160415-go72d6.html

“The ACT government is considering removing charity bins altogether from some shopping centres, fed up with the mess created by dumping.

Territories Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the bins in Gungahlin, Kippax and Kambah are particularly bad, but she wants to hear from residents about other bins as she considers removing them when the two-year permits expire at the end of June.”

Friends of Hawker Village have lodged several complaints over the past two years since the bins were moved from the Springvale Drive car park to the Coniston Street lawn.