News - Planning & development

When will the "proposed" Amaroo Shopping complex become a reality?
Amaroo was commenced some 14 years ago and there is still no sign of the complex being built.
We were promised a "Service station before Christmas 2006" the latest on this is that it may be several months, if not longer, before it is operating.
Is the shopping complex the same as the service station only years instead of months?

GCC UPDATE:

We have received a reply from Minster Andrew Barr to Des' query, as follows:

From BARR
To Alan Kerlin
date 08-May-2007 16:44
Subject RE: Amaroo Shopping Complex

Dear Alan

Thank you for your email of 5 May 2007 regarding the Amaroo Group Centre and Service Station.

The population catchment for the group centre (which includes the suburbs of Amaroo, Forde, Bonner and Jacka) will not be fully developed for some 15 to 20 years, given the sequence of development in Gungahlin and the anticipated growth rate of the Territory.

Given this, the intention is for a staged release at the Amaroo Group Centre. The first stage was the release of the service station, which would provide for the convenience shopping needs of current residents before the total catchment population was realised. A second stage, comprising a small commercial retail release and possible land for community facilities, should be released in 2008.

In relation to the Service Station, the ACT Planning and Land Authority advise me that a Certificate of Occupancy for the Service Station was issued on 23 March 2007, which means that building works are complete. The lease on this site requires that the premises be used for the purposes included in the lease within one year of the completion of the development. Thus, the lessee has until 23 March 2008 to open the Service Station before they are contravening the conditions of their lease.

Thank you for raising this matter with me. I trust this information has been of assistance.

Andrew Barr
Minister for Planning