The December GCC meeting was held on Wednesday 10 December at the Palmerston Community Centre.
Presenters included Mr. David Dawes from the Chief Minister's Dept who gave an update us on planned land releases around Gungahlin. A representative of ACTEW also outlined the strategy and current work being undertaken with regard to new potable water reserviors in the region.
The November GCC meeting was held on Wednesday 12 November. Special topics included the Cotter Dam expansion and the Horse Park Drv extension.
Although the Cotter Dam is not in the Gungahlin district, the dam and surrounding reserves are no doubt favourite recreational areas for many of our residents. Representatives of ACTEW presented information on the planned expansion of the dam and impacts on surrounding areas. Also the Canberra Times reported on this, saying that the expanded dam would - among other things - flood an additional 240 ha of land.
Representatives of Brown Consulting (ACT) P/L presented the preliminary design of the Horse Park Drive extension between Arrabri Street and Burrumarra Avenue, which will be constructed in 2009. This will take us one step closer to filling in all the missing links of this major local connector road.
Gungahlin residents, business operators, and all election candidates (where electronic contact details could be found) for the ACT electorates of Molonglo and Ginninderra were invited to the Gungahlin Community Council's... Meet the Candidates night on Wednesday 8 October, held at the Palmerston Community Centre in Palmerston.
Just 10 days before the election day on 18 October, the event was one of the last opportunities for candidates to 'strut their stuff', and for Gungahlin people to put their concerns directly to the people whom were seeking their votes.
And so close to the election day, all candidates should have had their their policies well bedded down, so could have been able to give solid commitments on the issues that matter to Gungahlin.
The meeting was facilitated by Peter Martin, the former economics editor from the Canberra Times (now with The Age). Peter's solid reputation for pragmatic economics, and familiarity with ACT politics, ensured that candidates got fair and equal treatment, with no opportunity for spin, and the ability for the residents to get concerns answered.
The majority of the Gungahlin district is in the Molonglo electorate, but all of Nicholls is orphaned in Ginninderra.
The September Gungahlin Community Council meeting was held on Wednesday 10 September.
Special guest for that meeting was Dr Maxine Cooper, the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability.
Dr Cooper presented on the ACT State of the Environment Report, and took questions on sustainability issues. It was also the GCC Annual General Meeting.
The July GCC meeting was held on Wednesday 9 July. Unfortunately the booked guest speaker, Peter Martin (Economics Reporter for the Canberra Times) was unable to make the meeting due to unforeseen work commitments. The meeting covered:
the surprise announcement by the Stanhope government that Light Rail had been given priority as an infrastructure project.
details of the submission made by the Gungahlin Community Council with regard to the Gungalin Town Centre planning study.
discussion of the formation of a Gungahlin "Chamber of Commerce" for business operators in the Town Centre.
discussion with regard to possible markets and community events in the town centre area.
The June Gungahlin Community Council meeting was held on Wednesday 11th June at the Palmerston Community Centre. Video of the full meeting is available here, broken into thirteen sections (via a YouTube playlist). The guest speaker at the meeting was Andrew Barr MLA, Minister for Education and Training, Industrial Relations, Planning, and Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Representatives from both the LDA and ACTPLA were also present. Given the fellow MLA John Hargreaves had been admitted to hospital, that day, for health issues and will be taking at least two weeks leave, Andrew also temporarily holds direct responsibility for the following areas: Multicultural Affairs, Territory and Municipal Services and Housing during this period
The May Gungahlin Community Council meeting was held on Wednesday 14 May at the Palmerston Community Centre. Video of the full meeting is available here, broken into two sections. Click 'Read more' to view the second video.
In first part of the meeting:
Introduction
An update on GCC activities and impact of the 2008 ACT Budget.
CHC Affordable Housing representatives spoke and to canvass community input into their plans to expand the supply of affordable housing in Gungahlin for rent and sale, under the ACT Government's recently announced Affordable Housing Action Plan to develop new affordable dwellings over the next decade.
In the second part of the meeting:
ACTPLA delegates gave an update on the community on the progress of the Gungahlin Town Centre Planning Study, release of the Planning Minister's Issues Paper, and most importantly an opportunity to provide your thoughts.
On Wednesday November 07, 2007 Candidates standing for the Federal Lower House Seat of Fraser and the ACT Senate positions were invited to a "Meet the Candidates Evening" hosted by the Gungahlin Community Council.
The meeting ran for approximately 2 hours. The GCC is pleased to bring you unedited video of the initial presentations from the attending Candidates at this event.
You can also click here to be taken to the Council's YouTube page to view the videos in a larger format.
