GCC met with the LDA on 23 March to canvas potential sites within the Gungahlin town centre for the Canberra Muslim Community to build a northside mosque and community centre. This follows on from the CMC’s withdrawal of interest in land for their mosque in Nicholls, which had resulted in significant concerns from Nicholls residents.

President Alan Kerlin expressed concern with the block proposed by the LDA, being to the south of Valley Avenue opposite Hinder Street, which is opposite the proposed club site. These concerns are:

• According to the draft town centre master plan, this site is to be part of the highest density area of the town centre, framing the commercial and business core areas. According to modelling done as part of the master planning, this site could developed to its highest and best use could be several stories of quality residential and commercial development. Therefore the mosque would be a substantial under-utilisation of the land. GCC has been solid in opposing such under-use of town centre land so must maintain this stance irrespective of our ongoing support for the mosque proposal.
• The low-rise mosque development would present context problems for future high density development proposals for surrounding lands, thus spreading the under-use impacts beyond the mosque site itself.

Country living in the City, is this a myth? Ask the Harrison residents.

On purchasing a block of land at Harrison, the residents were happy that at last they found a suburb with a difference, “Country living in the City” truly majestic and a dream come true, but the residents can no longer take comfort of living in a much sought after suburb as the ACT Government is determined to take away the peace and tranquility of the suburb by building 4 lane road “Well Station Drive” in a land locked area between small hill and Carpentaria Street.  The residents can no longer appreciate the beautiful landscape, the quiet surroundings and pure air. Residents can no longer enjoy the morning and evening walks around the suburb, nor can they let loose their pet in the only available area of suburb. Children can no longer fly their kite, learn to ride bike, and play in the evenings.  Instead they will be forced to confine in their house, watching television. This is the future that awaits the Harrison residents, courtesy our ACT Government and ACT Planning Minister.

The residents have brought to the attention of the authorities beginning with ACTPLA during August 2008 that the proposed Well Station drive extension connecting Horse Park drive is not in the best interest of the community. Since then, letters have been written to the ACT Chief Minister, ACT Planning Minister as well as a petition to the ACT Speaker with 40 signatures. Also, in response to the first ever community newsletter on Well Station drive extension about 50 residents, in spite of incorrect email address, have managed to express their concerns in writing to ACTPLA on the proposed Well Station drive extension.  Member for Molonglo Caroline Le Couteur and Member for Ginninderra and Shadow Minister for Transport, Alistair Coe have also visited the site and understood the concerns of the community. A motion was  moved in the assembly on 11th November by the Honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly calling on the ACT Government to re-align the Well Station drive extension further to the east away from the existing housing. Within few hours of passing the motion, the ACT Planning Minister Mr. Andrew Barr, without undertaking any study of the area went public in the Canberra Times dated 13th November, saying that realigning the road is not feasible and showed no sanctity to the Democratic process.

Over the last year and a half residents have put in a tremendous effort to bring to the attention of the ACT Government that there is a Planning disaster in waiting, the efforts by the residents need to be multiplied to keep alive their dream of “Country living in the City” otherwise very soon the ACT Government will commence building the Well Station drive extension which will take shape into 4 lane road with traffic speed of 80Kms/hr and with conservative estimate projecting the road will have traffic volume of 20,000 vehicles per day. Imagine the noise, pollution and dangerous intersection with Horse Park drive on to the lives of the Harrison resident’s? How can a Government turn a blind eye to their own people? Government is by the people and for the people.

by Uday Kaza, Harrison resident

The Gungahlin Community Council has objected to the proposal to auction a block behind The G shopping centre as a ‘club’ site. Irrespective of our concerns, the ACT ALP has pushed ahead with the proposal, and the rezoning application has been approved by ACTPLA. We will continue to combat this bad idea.

A concept plan from the DA, showing the potential land wasted on surface carparking:

The text of our submission to ACTPLA on the development application (DA) follows:

GCC has learned that the LDA, under instructions from the ACT ALP Government - will be auctioning a prime block of land in the Gungahlin town centre for another "club".

Some months back, we were consulted by ACTPLA about our thoughts on having more clubs in and around Gungahlin, as apparently several Canberra clubs were looking to move into Gungahlin. We told ACTPLA then that we did not think Gungahlin needed more gambling venues, and instead needed and wanted more ordinary venues like pubs and cinemas.

Despite our advice, the ALP Government is proceeding, with a restricted auction to come for this block of land bordered by Gribble and Hinder Streets, Kate Crace Drive and the Valley Avenue.

ACTPLA advised us that when they surveyed Gungahlin residents about their wishes, they found strong support for more clubs. Our concern is that people may support a "club" like sports clubs, without intending to express support for pokie venues.

We can't help thinking that the lure of more gambling revenue from pokies, and perhaps the possibility of the cashed-up Labor Club securing the site, are what is really driving this ill-advised decision.

View Gungahlin locations in a larger map

The ACT Government's Land Development Agency will be holding a presentation on their proposal to sell a block of land to the Canberra Muslim Community Inc for a place of worship and a community centre. At the LDA's previous public information session, GCC asked the LDA and Roads ACT to conduct a complete study of the traffic and parking issues of the surrounding precinct and the likely impacts that would result from this proposal. This meeting will present the findings of the Traffic and Parking Study commissioned by the LDA.

The block of land in question is between the shops and the schools in Kellaway Avenue Nicholls.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 November between 6.30 and 8.00 pm, at the library in the Gold Creek School on Kelleway Avenue.

Previous GCC items about the proposal:

Previous public information session and background information

Plans for the centre

Media article about plans

Work will commence early next year on widening the car park at Nicholls shops to improve safety and circulation and is expected be to completed within 3 months.

The work will involve widening the existing car park at Nicholls shops by two metres to improve traffic circulation and safety

Drivers are currently having difficulties reversing out of the car bays which can sometimes also contribute to traffic banking up towards Kellaway Avenue.

Roads ACT has also assessed car parking availability at Nicholls shops to determine if any additional spaces were required.

Three separate parking surveys at Nicholls shops have recently been completed. Two of these were undertaken over the course of a week, while the other one was done over three days. The surveys each looked at car parking availability during the day and the evening.

The surveys indicated that parking utilisation varied from between 12% capacity (or 6 out of 50 spaces) to 86% capacity (or 43 out of 50 spaces). Average utilisation was at 36% capacity during lunchtime and 44% during the evening peak.

On the basis of these surveys Roads ACT have determined that there is no evidence to indicate that the car park needs to be expanded at this point in time.

Local traders and residents are being informed via a letter in regard to the work and the outcome of the car parking surveys.

Many people in Gungahlin have been asking about when we'd get a pub (notwithstanding the George Harcourt already at Gold Creek). And we've been asking on your behalf when meeting with ACTPLA and LDA reps.

A development application has now been lodged with ACTPLA for a hotel to go between the police station and McDonalds. But there is a catch with this proposal - it is included with 62 accommodation units.

Hotel elevations (PDF 535 KB)

Hotel landscape plan (PDF 1227 KB)

Our submission to ACTPLA on the DA explains our concerns with this:

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has engaged Brown Consulting to undertake the planning, design and documentation of the Harrison 4 Residential Estate in Gungahlin.

The LDA is seeking feedback on the proposed Harrison 4 development plans via two public information drop-in sessions.

Session 1 Thursday 5 November 2009 (between 3.30pm and 7.00pm)

Session 2 Wednesday 9 December 2009 (between 3.30pm and 7.00pm)

Where: Harrison Primary School (multi purpose room)

See the LDA newsletter for information.

For more information about this project contact:
Peter Lewis of Brown Consulting (ACT)
email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
phone on 6211 7100
fax on 6211 7199.

The LDA will also give a presentation on development to the GCC meeting on 9 December.

The Gungahlin Community Council has accused the Labor Party's Member for Fraser Bob McMullan of welching on his pre-election commitment to halt Federal Government office relocations to the Canberra airport precinct.

The Department of Defence has agreed to lease two new sites in the Airport's business park - tenants GCC says should have come to Gungahlin.

"If Bob McMullan had kept his promise to stop Federal Government departments from relocating to the airport, Gungahlin could well have seen its first major office tenancies through this Defence relocation," said GCC President Alan Kerlin. "Instead he's allowed another key tenant to be crossed off the list for Gungahlin. 

"Of all the Federal departments in Canberra, Defence is the most logical one to establish a base in Gungahlin. It is far too big to be in a single location. There are already thousands of Defence staff living in Gungahlin. And with the rapid expansion of Defence Housing throughout Gungahlin, there's going to be far more Defence people in our area. Instead, now there will be hundreds more cars every day joining the crush on the Majura Road "parking lot".

Before the 2007 Federal Election, Bob McMullan told the Gungahlin Community Council's meet the candidates meeting that establishing a solid employment base was the most important issue facing Gungahlin. He was strongly critical of the Howard government for allowing uncontrolled office relocations to Brindabella Park. While he conceded that he couldn't change airport sale contract conditions that allowed offices to be built at the airport, if the ALP was elected to government he could "dry up supply" of tenants for those offices by preventing any more departments moving staff there.

"But Bob McMullan is still blaming the Howard Liberal Government. Mr McMullan has been in Government for two years, and these are decisions made on his watch. He can no longer blame someone else - it is time for Mr McMullan put his money where his mouth is and start delivering for the people of Gungahlin."

Mr McMullan claimed yesterday that "mistakes were easy to make but hard to fix."

"He's got that right," said Mr Kerlin. "And he's made a big one here. But it will be the residents and struggling business operators of Gungahlin paying the price for many years to come.

As a part of the overhaul and expansion of the ACT health system the ACT Government will develop community health centres at Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, City, and Dickson.

Enhanced Community Health Centres, providing a wider range of services, will also be developed at Phillip and Belconnen.

The centres are intended to reduce the reliance on hospitals while improving the quality of life and wellbeing in the local community. The centres will deliver extended health services aimed at assisting clients to manage acute and chronic conditions in the community.

Information about the design options is also at www.health.act.gov.au/communityconsultation

Comments can be made through the website, by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or by mail to:
Your health — our priority,
Community Health Centre Design Options,
GPO Box 825
Canberra City
ACT 2601.

Comments will be received until 5.00pm Friday 6 November 2009.
For further information visit www.health.act.gov.au or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Purdon Associates on 6257 1511.

The debate arount density flared up again at the launch of Sustainable House Day at the CSIRO Discovery Centre on 8 September 2009, with the Australian Institute of Architects' ACT President David Flannery continuing his attack on suburbs in general and Gungahlin in particular. There was also a presentation by the ACT Planning and Land Authority's Director of Planning Services Kelvin Walsh on upcoming new suburbs.

GCC President Alan Kerlin has previously spoken out on these issues, including on ABC Stateline, and was invited to the launch to respond to these speakers. Following is the transcript of his responses.

Response to Australian Institute of Architects’ David Flannery:

There is much of the arguments put by the Australian Institute of Architects that is valid. There does need to be increased density in some areas closer to city centres—all of the city centres, not just Civic.

And there are certainly some areas of Gungahlin—altogether too many areas—that are truly cringe-worthy. There are places where I have to focus very intently on the road ahead of my while driving through them so as to avoid looking up in despair. But these areas are not our fault. They were created by politicians and planners and architects and builders both past and present. People bought them often because they were the only places available in a land-stock starved market.

But the AIA have mixed valid arguments up with an unfounded attack on the suburbs in which many of us choose to live.

The Canberra Muslim Community have provided the plans for their proposed Mosque and Community Centre for Nicholls.

Further background can be found below and here

The GCC welcomes the news that the proposed changes to the parking at the Nicholls shops will no longer proceed. The plans to covert the exisiting parking into a one way system were unanimoulsy rejected by the local community at a public meeting on April 29.

Tony Gill from Roads ACT has advised that new options will be developed this year in liaison with the Gungahlin Community Council and Nicholls residents.

The ACT Government has refused heritage listing for the Gold Creek Homestead at Ngnunnawal.

Back in Feb 2008 the site was rezoned to allow for community facility purposes which could include aged care.