Giralang Shops - No Oversized commercial developments for you!

@Skidbladnir
Ever see anything like this in your suburb?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonedwookie/3330375448/
dont have 2 believe me but you can go see with your own eyes if you like.

Crace is less than a kilometer away.

niftydog said :

Where are people getting the idea that a >2500sqm Woolworths with a large catchment area, potentially operating extended opening hours and selling liquor is going to quell the anti-social behaviour in the suburb?

Any degree of economic activity and an operational commitment from a large-scale and nationally-branded provider is probably better (and at significantly less risk to individual members of society) than the current little to no economic activity, in that the venue is only engaging nods.
(apparently, if stonedwookie is to be believed)
It would probably -change- the antisocial behaviours from one form to another (taxed) form, and derive a legal capital flow from it.

bd84 said :

Another win for NIMBYers and for the Kaleen businesses not wanting competiton.

… The owner has basically no options left for developing the site with no high density housing and a supermarket of a viable size both ruled out. …

Whilst I agree the Kaleen businesses approach left a lot to be desired, I think the NIMBY claim is a bit of a stretch. I don’t think anyone has been arguing for nothing to be done

Lets not forget there was a functioning centre there before, it may not of been brilliant and there may of been a need to seriously revamp, but to claim the owners have no options is total bollocks.

The planning framework was always there, if they don’t think they can come up with a viable, approvable plan they are welcome to try to sell their lease as is, or possibly give it back to the government.

This situation was caused by two things a) short-sighted conversion of retail leases by the Carnell govt, and b) the desire by the current owners to maximise the windfall gain of a). Letting buildings decay is the oldest trick in the development handbook for getting your way, Giralang residents (and potentially every other suburban shops) deserve better. I’m sure residents of MacKellar, Palmerston, Page and the like would not appreciate the same approach by the owners of their suburban retail areas.

Like I said earlier, I’d rather see the site levelled if the current owners won’t bother to ensure it maintains at least the pretence of keeping it secure.

I live in Giralang, and I wish they would just do SOMETHING to the place.
I don’t care what.

Be it units or shops or units and shops.

99% of the people who live in Giralang never went to the shops there for anything more than milk.
The service station sells milk. I don’t see that there is a reason for there to be a shops there.
But I just want anything there. Living across the road from that is bad.

I’ve not noticed an increase in graffiti and vandalism linked to the demise of the shops. In fact the GBC boys seem to have gotten bored and moved on.

Where are people getting the idea that a >2500sqm Woolworths with a large catchment area, potentially operating extended opening hours and selling liquor is going to quell the anti-social behaviour in the suburb?

bd84 said :

Another win for NIMBYers and for the Kaleen businesses not wanting competiton.

So now they have struck down residential and shopping space on the site it’s a resounding vote for leaving it in the decaying state it currently is in. The owner has basically no options left for developing the site with no high density housing and a supermarket of a viable size both ruled out. It shows the idiots rule this city..

Agreed. +1.

Another win for NIMBYers and for the Kaleen businesses not wanting competiton.

So now they have struck down residential and shopping space on the site it’s a resounding vote for leaving it in the decaying state it currently is in. The owner has basically no options left for developing the site with no high density housing and a supermarket of a viable size both ruled out. It shows the idiots rule this city..

Good. The fewer Woolworths the better. Hopefully an independent grocer will set up there …

I am not sure about the planning procedures, but why did these plans go up for consultation if it was too big for the area?

I would of thought the developer would of been told to go back & shrink the proposed work. Then once the plans meet ACT Planning laws, would those plans be put up for consultation. Or do we have to do everything for the Government?

Next election, we should just vote for ourselves!