The Gungahlin Community Council welcomes today’s opening of the 360 degree Living store in Gungahlin. This investment by TransACT, Service One Members Banking and ActewAGL to open this new shopfront prior to Christmas is a welcome boost to local business, and is recognition by these companies of the continuing growth in the Gungahlin area.

Unlike the commercial sector, the ACT Government continues to fall behind the growing service needs of the Gungahlin area and remains non-committal on future ACT Government investment in certain key areas of service delivery for Gungahlin residents.

The recent decision by the ACT Government to relocate the Land Development Agency to Dickson is a major disappointment for Gungahlin. Gungahlin is the fastest growing area in Canberra, with significant residential and commercial development in progress or close to starting, making Gungahlin an ideal location for the LDA. The relocation of such an agency would have brought a welcome influx of trade to local businesses, particularly in the current economic climate.

GCC believes that the continued expansion of Gungahlin must be supported by both ACT and Federal Governments through commercial investment. The ACT Government remains out-of-step with important businesses that are investing in Gungahlin.

There is also a pressing need for the ACT Government to establish a shopfront in the Gungahlin town centre to handle issues such as vehicle registration and licensing, property transfers and rate payments and enquiries.

GCC is concerned that the LDA relocation decision sends an unwelcome message to the commercial property developers and investors that the ACT Government does not have faith in its own product or planning. The substantial current and planned commercial property and residential development require that ACT Government take a leading role investing in the Gungahlin area and thereby supporting local businesses.