GCC lodged a comprehensive submission to the Gungahlin Town Centre Planning Study.

You can read it here (109.95 KB) .

Thank you to all the residents who have giving us their thoughts via our meetings and emails. We have endeavoured to capture your concerns in our submission.

We'll keep you posted on progress with the study.

 

 

We have also written to Federal Government Minister Lindsay Tanner regarding the possibility of locating government departments in Gungahlin's new business park area. Our correspondence follows:

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From: Alan Kerlin - GCC President
Date: Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Subject: Office accommodation in Gungahlin
To: Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cc: Andrew Barr, Bob McMullan MP, Senator Kate Lundy, Jon Stanhope MLA


Dear Minister Tanner

We understand that you recently met with ACT Minister Andrew Barr and Bob McMullan MP concerning the potential for location of Federal Government agencies in Gungahlin.

The Gungahlin Community Council urges you to support this initiative. One of the cornerstones of the design of Canberra was the satellite city concept, where federal government agency tenancies were among the first developments in new town centres, thereby ensuring each centre had a substantial employment base.

Gungahlin is alone among Canberra town centres in not having a significant Federal Government presence. And we believe that the side effects of this are obvious - major traffic snarls every day resulting from almost all of us having to commute out. Major road construction costs. Major greenhouse impacts.

GCC believes that it is likely that few Department Secretaries would have come to Gungahlin in recent times to see exactly how the town centre is developing now. If they had seen the vibrant environment that we now have, they would realise that it offers an attractive proposition for new residents.

If you consider that the Gungahlin district is where the majority of new land is being released now and for some years into the future, it makes sense that departments that are having difficulties filling vacancies would be smart to consider locating offices close by. To do so is to offer interstate candidates for vacancies a full package of work and lifestyle.

GCC has been working with the ACT Government to secure a large tract of land to the immediate east of the town centre for medium-rise 'business park' development. The rezoning for this is in place, and planning study that will determine the precinct controls for the land is nearing completion. So the time is ideal to consider large-scale relocations.

We believe that your government is placing some constraints on department office locations over the previous government's free reins. However either way, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the advantages of a Gungahlin location with you or any department heads considering moves.

Regards,
Alan Kerlin
President
Gungahlin Community Council

 

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