A world-class activity centre on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin has been announced as the the winner of the Chief Minister’s Challenge.
Challenged to develop ideas on increasing interaction with Lake Burley Griffin in just six weeks, 55 young professionals forming 11 teams from over 30 organisations, entered the competition with the ‘Australian Centre to Inspire Vitality, Activity, Teamwork and Exercise’ or ‘ACTivate’ coming out on top following a split public and panel vote.
Hannah-Jean Cole, captain of winning team, ‘Charlie-Tango-Lima’, said: “It was an excellent opportunity for our team of young architects, designers and engineers to develop a unique vision for Canberra’s West Basin. We are very excited and proud that our concept was selected as the winning entry considering the high calibre of groups that competed in the Challenge. Now we hope our concept to ‘ACTivate’ the city and the lake by creating a dynamic and vibrant activity destination in the West Basin will become a reality.”
Submitted ideas ranged from a floating village, stadium and casino, land walkways across Parkes Way to innovative designs for Australia Forum. The majority of teams, including the winners, were comprised of individuals who had never worked together before. Industry-leading mentors were on on hand to help and they received masterclasses from Brumbies Coach Stephen Larkham, Nobel Prize winner Brian Schmidt, local Editor Jack Waterford, and leading business entrepreneur Michelle Melbourne.
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said: “This Challenge has shown what happens when you combine ability and innovation with passion for our city – Canberra inspires. I congratulate Charlie-Tango-Lima on ACTivate and all entrants to the Chief Minister’s Challenge.”
Organised by a group of volunteers called FutureNet and industry body Consult Australia, with the help of city-branding campaign CBR Brand Canberra, the Land Development Agency and Design Canberra festival, the Chief Minister’s Challenge sought to engage young professionals from a range of backgrounds to work collaboratively and think innovatively about ideas for their city’s future.
The Chief Minister added: “Many of the decisions governments take today relate to their future and so it is critical young people are engaged. This is why we are working hard to give unheard voices, untested theories and unshared ideas opportunity through a range of innovation projects and collaborations, just like the Chief Minister’s Challenge.”
All members of the winning team will receive a place on the FutureNet Business Leaders course to be delivered in autumn next year courtesy of event spon sors, leading built environment firms, ARUP and WSP.
The Chief Minister’s Challenge was an ‘ideas competition’ with outcomes helping influence thinking around the future development of the ACT.
(Media Release)
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