News - Planning & development

ACT Government Planning Minister Andrew Barr MLA has announced funding for two key components of the future of the Gungahlin town centre.

The first is $325,000 is for the design of the "Town Square" park that is to be a pivotal part of the secondary college and recreation precinct off Hibberson Street opposite the Raiders Club, and associated infrastructure - the stormwater for the majority of the town centre runs through this land parcel. This is significant commitment of funding and effort that helps to lock in the college and overall precinct.

The second is a commitment of $200,000 to undertake a study into the adequacy of commercial land supply for Gungahlin.

The original concept for the town was for 23,000 jobs, and of course we have nothing like that. On behalf of the community, the GCC has been lobbying hard for a halt to the rapid consumption of all available land around the town centre under a sea of townhouses, and for the land to be preserved for office accommodation. Without the land, we can't get local jobs, and without the jobs, we continue to all have to commute out. This in turn will result in major road construction costs to the ACT taxpayers.

We previously supported the substantial expansion fo available commercial land in our submission on the draft Territory Plan - after all we are supposed to end up with around 100,000 people in Gungahlin.

So the announcement of this study is a vital first step to locking in additional land for commercial use rather than residential, and business park use in particular. We asked Minister Barr to do this, and he's listened and acted. Well done Minister!

Full media release:

MINISTER ANNOUNCES OVER $500,000 FOR MOVING GUNGAHLIN FORWARD

Minister for Planning and Education and Training, Andrew Barr, today announced the Government will be investing over $500,000 to commence further studies and design work for the enhancement of the Gungahlin Town Centre.

Mr Barr said $325,000 will be spent on the design of a public park to be co-located with the Gungahlin College and associated stormwater works.  A further $200,000 will be invested to examine options for increasing commercial and community land in the town centre.

'It's been more than 15 years since settlement began in Gungahlin. The town centre has grown into a thriving shopping and business heart for the community and it is timely that we now look to the next phase of growth for Gungahlin town centre,' Mr Barr said.

'Through the Statement of Planning Intent, the Government has committed to delivering improved services to the community of Gungahlin. Part of that commitment is to ensure Gungahlin has key services such as shops, schools, ovals, public spaces, petrol stations and leisure facilities, as well as the potential to attract commercial office development to provide for increased local employment.

'In the 2007-08 Budget the Government committed $60.7 million for a college in the heart of Gungahlin. This will provide high quality education for year 11 and 12 students as well as a public library and CIT facility.

'This extra $350,000 will fund the design of stormwater works and a precinct park near the College which, when completed, will provide leisure and lifestyle opportunities for the Gungahlin community.'

Mr Barr said the other $200,000 will fund the examination of options for increasing commercial and community land development in the town centre.

'The Government is investing $200,000 for the ACT Planning and Land Authority to examine the amount of commercial and community land in the Gungahlin town centre and review the town centre's planning controls and infrastructure needs,' he said.

'This review will lead to an indicative land supply strategy and capital works program as well as possible changes to the planning controls for the town centre to broadly guide future development."

The project will focus on:

• the long-term commercial and community land supply for the Gungahlin town centre
• the character of future development in the town centre, such as building heights and integration with existing development
• transport needs related to an increase in employment.