14 February 2012

Hawker hits the too hard basket

| johnboy
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Andrew Barr has announced that as you can’t agree on what you want at Hawker shops there shan’t be any development at all.

I am announcing that I have placed a three-year moratorium on any ACT Government sponsored development at the Hawker Group Centre.

The moratorium is a commonsense decision, which will give everyone time to reflect on the issues raised during the master plan development process.

Let that be a lesson to you all.

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Tetranitrate10:29 am 15 Feb 12

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the main objection people had more to do with the plan to cannibalize existing parking to make room for units/apartments? similar deal to Jamison?

Because right now, I’d regard the Hawker shops as a model for local shopping centers – unlike the shops at Page and Scullin, Hawker is thriving. I don’t think there’s even one empty shopfront there.

tommy said :

the retailers onsite must be fairly glum that they’re out of luck for an update for 3+ years. I’m not sure many would want to stay in a 1980’s time capsule.

The local (small) retailers were in the vanguard of the campaign against it, so rather than “glum” i would think they’d be pleased.

PBO said :

Why couldnt they upgrade Page or Scullin shops? They are the ones that need it.

Works are currently underway at Scullin … haven’t bothered to familiarise myself with exactly what is being done … SWMBO & I have formed the view that they probably should just bulldoze the lot – cannot conceive what sort of mods would make the place attractive as a retail destination.

This thing was consulted to death. Literally.

Has anybody actually read all the reports that were done on this Centre? Shopping surveys, retail surveys, etc.

Why couldnt they upgrade Page or Scullin shops? They are the ones that need it.

Gee, a bit of reflection regarding the Fitters Workshop would have been welcome. How come the minister is suddenly prepared to apply his noggin?

Must be more to it.

Hadn’t thought of that. i just assumed they didn’t want the stoush in an election year, and the three-year moratorium would be wound back to one year straight after the election.

Hawker shops is ancient. I remember going there when I was a kid and it has declined ever since.

Sadly the local community has pretty much sunk the chances of Hawker getting a much needed upgrade – the retailers onsite must be fairly glum that they’re out of luck for an update for 3+ years. I’m not sure many would want to stay in a 1980’s time capsule.

Can’t agree what we want, huh? Which is surely code for “we don’t think apartment developers will pay silly $$ for this land right now, so we’ll try again in a bit.”

The way this gummint operates, if they reckoned there was cash in it they’d plough ahead (ir)regardless. And Zed won’t be stopping them, since his elevation to the status of “Boned”.

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