ACT Government Environment and Planning Update
To read a copy of the December update received from Ben Ponton please click here.
Traffic speeding at La Perouse/Carnegie Crescent intersection area
Two GNCA committee members, Gail McAlpine and Leo Dobes met on 4 November with Timothy DeWan (Narrabundah Peafowl Group) and Acting Detective-Inspector Paul Hutcheson of Road Policing to discuss traffic speeding in the La Perouse/Carnegie Crescent intersection area. Issues discussed were the combination of school children, old people, local residents walking dogs and accessing the bike track at the Red Hill school, as well as occasional peacocks crossing at the intersection, and being forced to negotiate access against heavy trucks and cars that often fail to comply with stop signs. Nearby streets also suffer from speeding, as evidenced by peacock deaths. Click here to view a new video about these issues. Our thanks to Mr. Emmanuel Stefanou of Carnegie Crescent who undertook most of the filming and also edited the footage.
Police subsequently conducted speed detection duties in the area, and have made a number of road engineering recommendations to increase pedestrian safety. The GNCA will raise these with the ACT Government.
DA 202139231- 77 Captain Cook Crescent – GNCA comments
Housing ACT proposes to demolish the existing dwelling on 77 Captain Cook Crescent and replace it with three 3 new single storey Adaptable dwellings. To see a copy of the GNCA’s submission please click here.
Our AGM – 7pm Wednesday 24 November, East Hotel
Please note that the GNCA AGM has been re-scheduled to Wednesday 24 November 2021. The guest speaker is Gordon Lowe, Director, Planning at the Molonglo Group. Members and non members are encouraged to renew or join before the AGM. For details please refer to our our Membership page.
Vigorous evaluation of the Stage 2 Light Rail is required
The Government needs to provide evidence that Stage 2 of the Light Rail represents value for money and provide better environmental benefits than other options. To read the joint DRA, GNCA and KBRG media release please click here.
September 2021 GNCA Newsletter
To access the latest issue click here. Issues covered include Covid, the ‘Manor House’, the Capitol Hotel, the Light Rail Extension and our Volunteer Park Groups.
Please support our GNCA Sponsors during Covid
The Delta Covid will be with us for much longer than we had all hoped. As you will be very well aware, our local restaurants, cafes, shops and specialty service traders have been hard hit. Many have had to temporarily close. Some of our favourite local restaurants offer takeaway services or meal deliveries, and we hope those of you who are able can support them in this way. In other cases, we can help by putting on our masks and buying the take-away offerings or their products and using the services that are still open. They need all the help they can get.
Our Sponsors page provides a list of our very generous Sponsors throughout 2021. Please support the businesses that support your GNCA.
GNCA Submission’s to the ACT’s Planning System Review and Reform Project
To view a copy of our submission, which makes 14 recommendations on how things in the Griffith/Narrabundah area could be improved, click here.
Letter to Minister Gentleman re his media comments about the ‘Manor House’ petition
Following comments by Minister Gentleman reported in the Canberra Times on 15 July 2021, the GNCA has sought his confirmation in the attached letter that the Government will not entertain similar proposals to the proposed “Manor House” elsewhere in Canberra’s RZ1 zones.
Online petition to reject DV 375 – ‘Manor House’
Following up on our efforts to stop the so called ‘Manor House’ being built in a low-density residential zone in Griffith, we need to obtain 500 signatures to submit a petition to the Legislative Assembly, calling on the Assembly to reject the proposed variation.
A petition will ensure that DV375 will have to be considered by the Standing Planning Committee of the Assembly, which must report back to the Assembly.
We note that of the over 520 submissions received by the government on the proposal to change the Territory Plan, only 4 supported the proposal!
Brief Background
- Draft Variation 375 is being introduced so that a 4-unit, 2-storey Manor House with 9 car parks, can be built in Griffith.
- Without this DV, the Manor House could not be built.
- If DV 375 is approved, Manor Houses or their equivalent could be built in any low-density residential zone, in the ACT.
- Canberra residents require certainty and trust, regarding what can be built near them; random rezoning of single blocks is bad planning.
- Draft Variation 375 is inappropriate for this part of Griffith and does not meet community expectations for the suburb.
- The proposal should be built on an RZ2 block, rather than in RZ1.
- Over 90 percent of the block will be covered by impervious surfaces.
GNCA meets with The Greens
On Friday 30 April 2021 at 4:15 pm, the President, immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer of the GNCA met with Shane Rattenbury (leader of The Greens) and Adriana Boisen, adviser to Rebecca Vassarotti. The two main issues for discussion were The Manor House and the Review of the Territory Plan. Click here to read the Minutes of that meeting.
National Crime Stoppers Day – “Not all heroes wear capes”
On Monday 17 May, Crime Stoppers ACT is asking Canberrans to help keep our city safe by reporting what they know. National Crime Stoppers Day aims to raise awareness of the vital role Crime Stoppers plays in keeping the community safe. More information about how you can help solve or prevent crime in the community can be found on their website.
DV375 Manor House
55 detailed responses, overwhelming against the proposal, as well as 475 form letters totalling 530 responses have been received. These submissions, which make interesting reading, have now been posted on the ACT Government’s Planning website.
Tree planting across Canberra
Across the ACT, 54,000 trees will be planted by 2023-24 to enhance our urban forest. The Canberra community has been helping identify where they should go, with planting locations to focus on areas where there aren’t many trees or where existing trees are ageing or dying. Please use the interactive map on the attached link to tell the ACT Government where you think a tree should be planted.
April 2021 GNCA Newsletter
To access the latest issue click here. Issues covered include the ‘Manor House’ and the Capitol Hotel at Manuka.
Proposed Draft Variation DV 375 – ‘Manor House’
We are pleased to report that many members and residents made detailed submissions to the ACT Government and numerous others signed individual letters objecting to the proposed Draft Variation. Members are encouraged to send a copy of their submission to local MLAs.
GNCA Raffle
A list of the prize winners for this year’s raffle can be found on the Sponsors page by clicking here.
David Denham addresses the ISCCC Meeting on 9 March re ‘Manor House’ proposal.
A 4 unit, two storey Manor House with 9 carparks next door to you!
The Demonstrated Housing Project – the thin edge of the wedge?
The ACT Government is proposing to change the planning rules so that a 4 unit 2 storey development can be built at 20 Blaxland Crescent (corner of Frome Street) in Griffith on a block zoned for low-rise, low density residential housing (RZ1). The location and plan of the proposed of the Manor House is attached. This type of building is not permitted in RZ1. The project is supposed to ‘test the effectiveness of different housing types through real examples and future review through post-occupancy modelling’.
Once the precedent has been set for rezoning random blocks, there is little to stop the ACT Government turning most of Griffith and other suburbs into high density areas. Canberrans need certainty when purchasing the family home, not government -driven spot rezoning in their back yards.
The reasons why GNCA does not support this change and further background information is attached here.
Members are encouraged to email their objections to this proposed Draft Variation to the Territory Plan – DV375 to terrplan@act.gov.au. Further information which you may wish to include in your own works in your objection email can be found in the attached generic letter.