News - Planning & development

These two articles give an idea of the problems facing many government departments in Canberra right now.

In the first (90.50 KB) , Catherine Carter of the Property Council (who we don't often agree with it has to be said) talks about how the office vacancy rate has fallen even further than the previous record low, now to just 1.3%, and that "there is no A Grade space available to let in Canberra".

In the other (292.46 KB) , the related story of Federal Government Departments that have mucked up and have outgrown their brand new headquarters before they've even moved in! AusAid, Centrelink, DAFF and now AFP. They are all moving into existing districts with very limited land available, so the tricky balance between paying for empty space and having room to expand is not being done too well by some.

So how does this relate to Gungahlin?  Well there is one department that has been doing it right, albeit at an undesirable location.

DEWR has been moving staff into multiple buildings that take around 500 staff each, all in the same general location - Brindabella Park at the airport. Now we may hate what the airport is doing to traffic problems and road construction bills for ACT taxpayers, but BBP has something none of the other areas departments are moving to has - expansion space.

But there is another area that has the same quality - Gungahlin. There's already a well-advanced but admittedly small business park proposal adjacent to the emergency services off Gundaroo Drive - Mr Stanhope just when exactly is that land going to be released? There are also two blocks facing Hibberson Street (next to Aldi and Coles) that should be used much more efficiently than have the previous town centre blocks. With underground parking rather than surface parking as Aldi has, and a community-supported relaxation on the current four-storey height limit, these blocks could make wonderful government offices right in the heart of it. Again - Mr Stanhope when will this land be released?

Then the draft Territory Plan proposed a very large area immediately to the east of the existing town centre be converted from "more bloody townhouses" to C2 Commercial business park zone, which we fully supported. We also supported the four-storey height limit on the draft plan being increased to eight near the town centre, tapering down closer to existing residential lands.

It is in this last area in particular that federal departments could move themselves a building at a time, with minimal risk of getting the vacant space balance wrong. If you are a department secretary reading this, just picture the beauty of Brindabella Park's quality architecture in picturesque grounds, but with heaps of cafes, restaurants, shops, banks, doctors, supermarkets and more all within a short stroll.

And here's the rally intriguing twist to this visioning - senior staff from the airport have told me that the airport's Terry Snow has actually been after land to develop office accommodation at Gungahlin, but told by the Chief Minister's office that nothing is available...

This is at the same time as we are being told by ACT Government MLAs that there is nothing they can do to get Federal Government departments to move to Gungahlin!

So how about it Mr Stanhope - surely you agree this doesn't make sense? When will you start releasing land for offices in Gungahlin?

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