19 May 2014

Increased high density housing in revised development of Brickworks

| Canfan
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Brickworks plan 1

Canberra landmark and spooky ruin, the Canberra Brickworks may soon be the centre of an exciting new housing development.

The ACT Government has provided in-principle support for development of the land defined in the current Strategy for the Canberra Brickworks + Environs, subject to relevant ACT and Commonwealth statutory processes.

The Strategy includes a proposal for 1,600 new dwellings to be built on and around the site of the old Yarralumla Brickworks. This is increased from 1,100 proposed in earlier plans. Other adjustments include a rise in maximum height of some dwellings from 4 stories to 8 stories.

Initial stabilisation and decontamination of old Brickworks could cost between $5 million and $10 million.

Community Consultation will begin on 31st May and close at the end of June.

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TheYRA said :

Only $1.5 million has been allocated to mothball the brickworks so we don’t expect it to become a tourist attraction. That is a relief because no parking has been proposed. Tourists could also get confused if the main access route, which will be shared with the Governor General, is blocked from time to time due to visiting dignitaries. On that point we wonder what the site lines will be like from the 6 storey buildings that will line the top of Dunrossil Drive.

They don’t actually want tourism there – the tourism angle is just a trojan horse for their business case. They are ONLY interested in the high-end apartments.

watto23 said :

Also people misunderstand asbestos. A concreted over asbestos dump is completely safe. In fact it is far more dangerous now than it would be if something was built on top of it and it is concreted in.
The hysteria over the telstra pits was also led by those who don’t like using facts but like using fear to control people.

We find it hard to fathom the attraction of concreted blocks of land. Our preferred option is for full remediation that is compliant with all applicable legislation. The YRA has asked for the ACT Government to review its plans for asbestos remediation on a small area near the Canberra Brickworks that is seen as a test area for the rest of the site http://www.yarralumlaresidents.org.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/YRA-Brick-clean-up-DA-Sub-010614-2.pdf
and strongly support the online petition that has been put forward by local resident Katherine Wilkinson that asks the ACT government to provide comprehensive health and safety reports for Yarralumla Brickworks asbestos remediation. Her petition can be signed at http://chn.ge/1ntY1MT

watto23 said :

Parking is an issue at Yarralumla. Don’t go get a kebab on Fridays that is for sure. I’m not sure the new development would put a huge extra strain on it though. It will definitely add to it, but If I lived in the development I’d walk to Yarralumla shops, like I do now from Deakin.

We commend the fact that you walk to your local shops and are in favour of public transport options that work.We would love that to be the case in Yarralumla. However, the lighting must be better in Deakin because few people seem to walk to the shops after dark in Yarralumla and the proposed bus on Adelaide Avenue is still a long way from many of the 8 and 6 storey apartments. We also doubt that 4000 people trying to do their weekly grocery run at the local IGA will walk. But you could be right about not much of an extra strain on the Yarralula shops because it will probably be easier to drive down the Cotter Road to the Curtin Shops instead of travelling through the maze of congested streets in the new estate while competing with traffic between West Deakin and the Cotter Road to get to the Yarralumla shops.

watto23 said :

As a road user in the area and I work in Deakin West, I completely agree with lack of transport planning here. Especially given they duplicated Cotter road and it will become a major road for residents of molonglo. They don’t all want to head north on Adelaide Ave!

“They duplicated Cotter Road” – except for the bits they didn’t, and don’t look like doing anytime soon. There’s really bugger all difference between what was there and now, except for a new set of unsync’ed traffic lights.

The remaining leg of the triangle (from Cotter to Adelaide Ave, but heading south to Woden) should also be finished before traffic gets worse. Dream on.

TheYRA said :

In response to EPIC. We would love you to share the beauty of Yarralumla and for you to enjoy a walk to the local shops.
However, please don’t bring a car because the Yarralumla shops don’t have enough car spaces (at least 100 fewer than required by the ACT Government’s code – but the code is not retrospective) already.
You would probably want to do your grocery shopping at the local shopping centre. That’s a pity really because no new shops or parking are being proposed in this plan for Yarralumla infill.
You probably won’t want to come if you have a young family because no new community facilities are being proposed. This will only add to the roundtrip commutes to Curtin, Deakin or elsewhere.
However, getting to and from the new estate in Yarralumla to Deakin and Curtin will be an issue by car because of traffic congestion. Even without the new estate traffic at the already congested Novar/Dudley Street roundabout is projected to triple within the next 15 years. All traffic between West Deakin and the Cotter Road is to be routed through the new estate.
Of course you could set yourself up in one of the 8 storey apartments overlooking the golf course and the dilapidated brickworks. We are told there will be no need to worry about the 8 storey apartments being built on asbestos dumps because they will concrete over the top of the contaminated land and you will be able to see the green of the golf course and have no need for your own garden.
Only $1.5 million has been allocated to mothball the brickworks so we don’t expect it to become a tourist attraction. That is a relief because no parking has been proposed. Tourists could also get confused if the main access route, which will be shared with the Governor General, is blocked from time to time due to visiting dignitaries. On that point we wonder what the site lines will be like from the 6 storey buildings that will line the top of Dunrossil Drive.
So, please come and join us but let’s make sure whatever is built is sensibly designed, takes full account of the contamination issues and provides the services and infrastructure required by a vibrant community projected to double the size of the existing suburb. The current proposal is a missed opportunity. We want the ACT government to go back to the drawing board and develop a better proposal that ensures a viable development instead of a ghetto without services and infrastructure.

As a road user in the area and I work in Deakin West, I completely agree with lack of transport planning here. Especially given they duplicated Cotter road and it will become a major road for residents of molonglo. They don’t all want to head north on Adelaide Ave!

Parking is an issue at Yarralumla. Don’t go get a kebab on Fridays that is for sure. I’m not sure the new development would put a huge extra strain on it though. It will definitely add to it, but If I lived in the development I’d walk to Yarralumla shops, like I do now from Deakin.

I have no issues with the density though, I bet it won’t be cheap and you’ll get plenty who want to live in it, being in such a nice location.

Also people misunderstand asbestos. A concreted over asbestos dump is completely safe. In fact it is far more dangerous now than it would be if something was built on top of it and it is concreted in.
The hysteria over the telstra pits was also led by those who don’t like using facts but like using fear to control people.

In response to EPIC. We would love you to share the beauty of Yarralumla and for you to enjoy a walk to the local shops.
However, please don’t bring a car because the Yarralumla shops don’t have enough car spaces (at least 100 fewer than required by the ACT Government’s code – but the code is not retrospective) already.
You would probably want to do your grocery shopping at the local shopping centre. That’s a pity really because no new shops or parking are being proposed in this plan for Yarralumla infill.
You probably won’t want to come if you have a young family because no new community facilities are being proposed. This will only add to the roundtrip commutes to Curtin, Deakin or elsewhere.
However, getting to and from the new estate in Yarralumla to Deakin and Curtin will be an issue by car because of traffic congestion. Even without the new estate traffic at the already congested Novar/Dudley Street roundabout is projected to triple within the next 15 years. All traffic between West Deakin and the Cotter Road is to be routed through the new estate.
Of course you could set yourself up in one of the 8 storey apartments overlooking the golf course and the dilapidated brickworks. We are told there will be no need to worry about the 8 storey apartments being built on asbestos dumps because they will concrete over the top of the contaminated land and you will be able to see the green of the golf course and have no need for your own garden.
Only $1.5 million has been allocated to mothball the brickworks so we don’t expect it to become a tourist attraction. That is a relief because no parking has been proposed. Tourists could also get confused if the main access route, which will be shared with the Governor General, is blocked from time to time due to visiting dignitaries. On that point we wonder what the site lines will be like from the 6 storey buildings that will line the top of Dunrossil Drive.
So, please come and join us but let’s make sure whatever is built is sensibly designed, takes full account of the contamination issues and provides the services and infrastructure required by a vibrant community projected to double the size of the existing suburb. The current proposal is a missed opportunity. We want the ACT government to go back to the drawing board and develop a better proposal that ensures a viable development instead of a ghetto without services and infrastructure.

Masquara said :

Its not It’s

I think it’s is correct as in “it is high density”.

switch said :

Don’t worry, the tram will fix it.

I was going to say that is overkill but then I realised that a possible tram costs the same amount as a possible bus.

Masquara said :

It’s high density and its success and sustainability don’t depend on light rail – just improved bus services and a new bus stop. So why is it any different from Northbourne? This consultation and the attendant documents underline the case AGAINST light rail. Bus option please!

Its not It’s

I would love to live in Yarralumla. But I can’t afford the current prices of the few properties that are for sale.

I live further out where bus connections are poor and cycling is too far from the office.

I would love to walk to Yarralumla shops to enjoy a coffee under the trees, or cycle to work. Would love to run around the beautiful lakeside parks.

In fact I DO go running in these areas, but I DRIVE to get there. How crazy is that?

A healthy supply of inner south property helps keep prices affordable (for renter or buyers).

Construction might even create jobs in a city that needs them.

The only downside I can see is that current residents of the suburb may have to share its beauty with the rest of us.

It’s high density and its success and sustainability don’t depend on light rail – just improved bus services and a new bus stop. So why is it any different from Northbourne? This consultation and the attendant documents underline the case AGAINST light rail. Bus option please!

davo101 said :

TheYRA said :

One of the main issues is the lack of forward thinking on the traffic infrastructure.

I’m more concerned with the fact that this is touted as an example of “Transit Oriented Design” yet on p.24 it says:

…provide excellent access to improved public transport, linking in with a possible transit interchange located along Adelaide Avenue

Yes, that’s right, in Canberra you can have transit oriented design even without having to provide the transit. It’s a miracle.

Don’t worry, the tram will fix it.

TheYRA said :

One of the main issues is the lack of forward thinking on the traffic infrastructure.

I’m more concerned with the fact that this is touted as an example of “Transit Oriented Design” yet on p.24 it says:

…provide excellent access to improved public transport, linking in with a possible transit interchange located along Adelaide Avenue

Yes, that’s right, in Canberra you can have transit oriented design even without having to provide the transit. It’s a miracle.

The period for submissions has been extended until 14 July 2014 and the YRA is encouraging all interested parties to submit their views on the proposed development to brickworks@act.gov.au (cc: info@YarralumlaResidents.org.au).

There are many aspects to consider concerning the current proposal. Many of the issues raised by the community in 2010 were addressed by the LDA in its 2011 Draft Master Plan. Unfortunately, that Draft Master Plan has now been shelved and the issues that the LDA said they would address are being ignored.

One of the main issues is the lack of forward thinking on the traffic infrastructure. Without a direct link from the Cotter Road to West Deakin all the traffic that currently flows along Dudley Street Yarralumla and around the roundabout at the Novar Street/Kent Street Bridge will need to travel through the proposed new development. The Cotter Street/ Dudley Street entrance will be closed. The Cotter Street/ Dunrossil Drive entrance will be closed. A new single street off the Cotter will provide access to the Governor General, the Brickworks and a new estate which must be traversed before reaching Kent Street, Deakin.
We expect the preference of many will be to use McCulloch Street Curtin or even Hopetoun Circuit Yarralumla/ Deakin. This is not a workable solution, particularly with the expected increase in traffic from Molonglo.

We are also concerned about the lack of infrastructure to support the projected 4,000 new residents. If anyone has tried to park at the Yarralumla Shops recently they would appreciate the community concerns about the lack of new infrastructure in the current proposal and how anyone will ever find a park near the shops.

The YRA is updating further details of the current proposal and relevant matters on our website at:
http://www.yarralumlaresidents.org.au/planning-development/brickworks/

Sheeesh, glad I didn’t buy in Yarralumla a couple of years ago when I was looking for a new house…

Catty said :

Just what we need. MORE medium – high density.

I agree. It IS what is needed. It could be designed well, but the question is will it be! And please no more boring bland grey or brown. So over done. There are other colours.

Catty said :

Just what we need. MORE medium – high density.

I was talking to a real estate agent the other day and he told me there were in excess of 3000 vacant units in Canberra, with about another 400-500 under construction.

It seemed high to me but he was pretty sure of his figures. Even if he is only half correct it definitely means that more ‘high-density’ is NOT what is required.

Honestly, what idiots are doing the town-planning in this city?

Just what we need. MORE medium – high density.

Hasn’t this all been done before?

and is a housing development Ever exciting?

justsomeaussie12:10 am 20 May 14

This will go hand in hand on projects that never eventuate as with the East Lake Development. Remember not so long ago all those community consultation, expert plans, designs costing hundreds of thousands only for First Edition to sit next to an open eyesore and prime real estate gone begging.

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