Meeting of residents associations and others on 11 December 2018
Summary notes
Planning Processes –
o Consultation across all sectors of the ACT Government and the National Capital Authority as well as the key stakeholders including proponents of Deakin section 66 and at the Federal Golf Club.
o Independent traffic analysis has been undertaken.
o Next step to take feedback from these meetings and update options and analysis and come back to stakeholders in early February 2019. EPSDD will work toward a draft Integrated Plan possibly for April 2019.
· Study area including:
o The core study area – all blocks adjacent to the Red Hill Nature Reserve and the surrounding open space network.
o The broader context area – residential areas of Hughes, Garran and Deakin; Deakin office park. Areas excluded are the Garran hospital precinct; and the Commonwealth land and playing fields adjacent to Adelaide Avenue at Deakin
· Ecological values:
o Mapped within the Red Hill Nature Reserve
o Review of the Plan of Management for the Canberra Nature Park including the Red Hill Nature Reserve
o Funding the capping of the old Deakin tip
o Values, links and corridors on surrounding open space network and leased lands.
· Opportunities and constraints to urban development in the core study area:
o Traffic analysis –
§ Kent Street is likely to require upgrades in the near future with implications for development within the Deakin office park and at Deakin section 66;
Options:
§ Gowrie Drive traverses the nature reserve and is problematic in terms of emergency access egress for development at the Federal Golf Club
§ Brereton Street is a low order residential street and is not recommended as alternative access for the Federal Golf Club
§ A thoroughfare linking Brereton Street with Gowrie Drive would create a significant rat run.
o Bushfire risk – is problematic for leases adjoining the Red Hill Nature Reserve including; Deakin section 66; parts of the Federal Golf Club and its sole access along Gowrie Drive; residential low density areas adjoining the nature reserve.
o The established low density settlement pattern of areas surrounding the nature reserve and potential for increased edge affects limit development potential in the area.
Option 1 – do nothing –
§ The Federal Golf Club could explore uses permitted under the current PRZ2 restricted access recreation zoning including a range of recreation uses; hotels; motels and clubs up to 15% of the site
§ Deakin office park and community facilities allow a range of uses for which there are current development applications in train.
§ Deakin section 66 could be developed for a uses permitted under the current TSZ2 services zoning including storage facility, waste transfer stations and the like.
Option 2 – development as proposed by developers –
§ Retirement village at Federal Golf Course provided the constraints relating to emergency access, traffic and ecological values are addressed
§ Significant mixed use residential development at Deakin section 66 provided the constraints relating to bushfire, traffic, ecological values and the old Deakin tip are addressed.
§ Deakin office park as per option 1
Option 3 – expanded Deakin office park
§ The Federal Golf Club could explore uses permitted under the current PRZ2 restricted access recreation zoning as for option 1
§ Include Deakin section 66 into the Deakin office park area with limitations on residential development on the site provided the constraints relating to bushfire, traffic, ecological values and the old Deakin tip are addressed.
§ Deakin office park as per option 1
o Option 4 – expanded Deakin office park and alternatives for the Federal Golf Club
§ The Federal Golf Club could explore development at another location on the site with alternative access of Kitchener Street.
§ Include Deakin section 66 into the Deakin office park area with limitations on residential development on the site provided the constraints relating to bushfire, traffic, ecological values and the old Deakin tip are addressed.
§ Deakin office park as per option 1
· Discussion/comments from the group:
o The Prime consideration /objective relates to the preservation of the Red Hill Nature Reserve and any impacts on it.
o The broader context has been considered (and largely related to if certain options might be pursued).
o Weeds and management of weeds in the Red Hill Nature Reserve is a fundamental consideration for the protection of the values of the reserve.
o Ecological values – have been mapped within the area of the Red Hill Nature Reserve as well as the identification of key values, links and corridors outside the reserve.
o Traffic analysis – discussion was broad ranging and included: time counts; modelling; the recent upgrades (speed bump) in place
o Deakin Section 66 – is essentially two parts being the current footprint of development and vacant land
o Federal Golf Club site –
§ Gowrie Drive widening might have impacts on the wildlife and environment
§ Suggestion for handing part of the site back to the reserve with the balance being utilised for recreation and/or education
§ The scale of development was discussed including – height, number of units (scale) and location (siting). GAHRAG will forward some considerations of this.
§ Management of site retained if developed under the retirement village MBark model
§ preference is for Gowrie Drive as is or closed.