Notices for the GunSmoke newsletter, GCC meetings, meeting minutes and videos of proceedings.
The deadline for GunSmokes is the 15th of each odd month, for issue in the first half of each even month.
The Gungahlin Community Council holds a public meeting on the second Wednesday of every month except January. Meetings run from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Everyone is welcome.
The venue is the Palmerston Community Centre, on Tiptree Crescent (off Kosciuszko Avenue - next to the Palmerston shops). You can check the venue here.
17,620 copies of the latest issue of the GCC newsletter Gungahlin Smokesignals - GunSmoke - are now being delivered across Gungahlin.
Issue 116 features articles on a unique wetlands park planned for the Gungahlin town centre, and unfortunately moke pokies being foisted on us by the ACT ALP Government. We also feature the regrettable decision by the ACT Government to locate an extension of Well Station Drive - four lanes with 20,000 cars per day - just 20 metres from a quiet residential street.
Present Alan Kerlin, Kevin Cox, Estelle Sydney-Smith, Matthew Connors, Dave Bocket, Haley McGraw, Jim Gillland
President's Report and Discussion
Discussion on office use. It was decided to get a valuation on the office and hall rental rates and to hire the office space to GCRS
It was decided to review the overall rental rates with no change to social function rates but an increase in other rates effective from 1st January.
It was agreed that the new all of community council insurance approach be adopted by the GCC
There was to be a Bunyip Statue meeting at 10:30 on October 15th
It was noted that mid sized blocks in Gungahlin are now defined as 250 square meters. It was noted that the median size lot was 485 meters with a cost of $231K. There was considerable discussion on the reduction of block sizes and general agreement that more variety should be made available in Gungahlin and that the move to smaller block sizes without any compensatory increase in public space was undesirable and unnecessary.
It was noted that TAMS are reducing service levels because infrastructure development was funded from cash. In other words the ACT is using cash accounting instead of accrual accounting for its provision of both services and capital works. It was resolved to continue to object to this approach particularly with respect to the development of new areas where this approach leads inevitably to higher than justified prices of new land.
There was discussion on Gunsmoke and congratulations to the editorial and production team.
Treasurer Report
The Treasurers report was tabled and discussed
Executive Meeting Closed at 7:30 and the General Meeting started - the meeting was videotaped
There were 16 people in attendance.
Fred Kasparek the architect for CHC and "The Edge" gave a presentation and description of this development. It was noted that the development would have vista breaks, favourable orientation to the sun, and community gardens including the ability of residents to grow vegetables.
Tim Smith and Liz Clark from Action gave a presentation on the proposed new 15 minute bus service from Gunghalin through Civic to Barton. This service was being introduced as a "pilot" and if successful it would be continued. It was noted that there is presently no definition of success. Discussion ranged from off peak and weekend services, to green buses, the use of Epic as Park and Ride area, wandering buses and the new ticketing system.
Tony Gill and John Taylor from Roads ACT outlined the pedestrian and cycling strategy for the ACT. They also informed the GCC that there would be a display at the Town Centre n the 9th November
ACTION will provide information about the recently announced REDEX express services between Gungahlin and Civic/Airport/South Canberra
TaMS and their consultants want to talk to us about the Walking and Cycling Strategy and how it relates to Gungahlin.
Architect Phil Kasparek will present the final plans for the Edge community housing project on Flemington Road, on which GCC has had considerable input (and hopefully change).
Michelle provided an overview of the current finances.
2. Presidents Report
Alan provided a summary of the current activities being undertaken by the President.
Alan indicated that response for volunteers for Gunsmoke had been strong and there were several people able to assist with GS production, editing and preparation.
Alan indicated that he was preparing a formal response to the Airport Master Plan based on previous comments/concerns and new issues emerging from the revised plan submitted by the Canberra Airport Corporation.
General Meeting - 1930
1. Jason Forest – ACTPL – Gungahlin Town Planning Study
Jason Hunter, Caroline Sayers from ACTPLA - Development Policy
Estelle Sydney-Smith, Kevin Cox, Alan Kerlin
Apologies Mathew Connors, Michell Holmes
The executive meeting was devoted to a discussion of the technical amendments to the Precinct Codes for mid sized blocks.
The discussion was wide and mainly covered the principles and procedures associated with how the idea of precinct codes would work and fit in with the rest of the planning procedures. It was generally agreed that the principles driving the precinct codes were more important than the particular details and it was agreed that where possible decisions would be refer to the guiding principles so that a consistent pattern of decision-making would be established but also where variations from the principles would be noted and the reasons given. This particular code is important - because not only does this sized block have no existing long-standing codes but because it will set a pattern for further precinct planning code development.
Issues raised and discussed were:
Estate developers will be given less scope for variations
Method of creating the codes (the process)
Compact block plan is an interim policy and should not be taken as a final policy
Mid sized block plan is a work in progress and how it develops will set the pattern
Last night, the 8th of April, Gungahlin Community Council held its April meeting at Palmerston Community Centre.
What was particularly exciting about last night for me was the amount of Gungahlin residents who attended a GCC meeting for the first time.
These members of the Gungahlin Community were interested, and engaged with the speakers on issues that affect us as a community.
Tony Gill was wonderful, I thought, and seemed to me to be genuinely helpful and accessible in regard to solving traffic issues within the district.
He has already acted on several initiatives proposed by Council, such as providing a footpath in Harrison and trialling the painting of the pavers in the pedestrian crossings at the marketplace while pursuing options for a more permanent solution.
Tony noted that the pavers are cracked, and is investigating the possibility of replacing them with standard asphalt pedestrian crossings.
Noel McCann and his team presented a PowerPoint on the history of the airport and the measures they have taken so far to improve issues with noise, and their future plans in regard to this issue and also in regard to expanding their business.
Meetings
