30 July 2008

Giving in over Molonglo

| johnboy
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The Canberra Times informs us of another colossal backflip from the ACT Government, now ackowleding that the NCA’s plans for Molonglo are the way to go.

    “Three parcels of land were to be developed at Central Molonglo, North Western and Molonglo.

    Only two parcels will now proceed, with Central Molonglo – 560ha of yellow box-red gum grassy woodlands – taken off the plans.

    The ACT Planning and Land Authority wanted a 20-year development moratorium on Central Molonglo, while the NCA wanted it off the plan altogether.”

Is it just me or was this a monumentally pissy argument to have and then lose?

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I do actualy like the Gungahlin shopping strip where you actually walk along the shops outside, instead of mega-malls like everywhere else.

amarooresident4:43 pm 31 Jul 08

I’m gonna stand up for Gungahlin here – it is far from a disaster. Narrow streets don’t bother me as it slows the traffic down in suburban streets and there is open space available a short walk from anywhere, particularly in my part of the world, Amaroo.

The glib characterisation of Gungahlin frustrates the hell out of me, I’ve lived there for over ten years and have enjoyed watching it grow and develop to the point where I think it has an interesting mix of housing and commercial development with some great restaurants and increasingly vibrant community.

Having said that, it needs a pub.

If ACTPLA really had nothing to do with this envirnmental report, why did they agree to pay for half? The more I think about this the more it makes no sense.

Looks like ACTPLA got caught out by the NCA actually accepting the report as given, without making a lot of changes (aka ‘feedback’ so it said what they wanted it to) before releasing it.

ACTPLA wouldn’t know if their office was on fire, if the recent fiasco where they forgot to send all the documents pertaining to the restrictions placed on the redevelopment near City Hill to potential developers is anything to go by.

Of course, now the developers want to include a supermarket within the development – which just so happens to be one of the types of restrictions that ACTPLA had on the site!!!

The whole decision making process on the Molonglo dvpt seems to have been pretty shady.

ACTPLA paid half for the report into Molonglo, but now deny having anything to do with it?
(NCA says they made extensive comment and were involved in briefings).

Does this mean that when the report recommended not developing Molonglo due to environmental concerns, ACTPLA decided to have nothing further to do with the report, as they knew it wasn’t what Jon S wanted to hear??

I support the decision not to develop. I think Canberra does need more new suburbs, but not on areas that are particularly valuable environmentally.

And urban infill is dangerous if taken too far. Glebe park is looking really worn out, as it is the only green space for a bbq within walking distance of Civic.

caf said :

And Thumper, although much of Gunghalin isn’t my cup of tea, it seems to be popular enough with the people who choose to live there.

You’ve got to be kidding!

Mr Evil: There’s actually a story on the front page of today’s (northside) Chronicle about the Currong Flats being sold.

Anyway comparing the Central Molonglo development – a large, long-term area – to smaller and short term city infill is a pretty long bow to draw. And Thumper, although much of Gunghalin isn’t my cup of tea, it seems to be popular enough with the people who choose to live there.

I just reckon they could be doing a lot more with the dodgy flats that fill up the Braddon, Dickson, Lyneham part.

Exactly.

But no, this Govt is happy to allow developers to build houses (including guvvies) out in areas like Uriarra instead; which is just so practical, especially when the price of petrol is over the $1.50 mark.

Lack of water resources will force a greater population density. They can plan as much as they want with an election in the wind but it does not mean it will translate into reality.

I’m not sure they could infill civic much faster if they tried.

In fact I reckon they are trying and what you’re seeing right now is full speed ahead.

Extra housing tracts are “All that AND a bag of chips”

Although I haven’t seen how much land this rules out for development, I actually think this will be a good thing as it might just stop the ACT Govt building another mini Dunlop/Gungahlin Boganvillaville.

I seriously think the ACT Govt should be looking at using more of the land near Civic and the other town centres a bit better and build more medium/high density apartment type housing in those areas, rather than spreading the city willy-nilly across the ACT.

I mean, how much would the land be worth underneath those guvvie flats behind the Canberra Centre along Bunda(?) and Ainslie Ave – not to mention all along Northbourne Ave too?

All that national park isn’t bushland enough for you?

neanderthalsis9:37 am 31 Jul 08

I guess housing developments are a bit of a lose – lose situation. On one hand you have those who clamour for more land releases and cheaper housing and then there are those who go berko when you announce you might have to cut down a few trees and mow the grass in order to build a new estate.

bloody meddlesome NCA.

lionelvioletguyandslingsby1:59 am 31 Jul 08

No rare moths, then?

I wonder if that ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ thing would work on my kids….

Jonathon Reynolds1:10 am 31 Jul 08

Granny said :

If worst comes to worst they can always reverse backflip to their real position after the election.

“Once we get in, we’ll just change it all.”

Prophetic words attributed to Peter Garrett from the 2007 Federal Election campaign that actually describe the real intentions of just about all political parties. The amount of time to backflip just depends on whether they are core or non-core promises.

The government is just being very sensitive and new age and consultative right now so people can get to know their soft, fuzzy, feminine side. If worst comes to worst they can always reverse backflip to their real position after the election.

“So I hear what you’re saying is you’d really like us not to develop that 560ha of yellow box-red gum grassy woodlands ever….”

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