27 August 2010

No DA process for McGregor Hall

27 August 2010 | johnboy

The bad news keeps coming for McGregor Hall.

Hot on the heels of Yesterday’s rejection of heritage status Andrew Barr has used his call in powers to kill off the Development Application process.

It’s only the third time the Minister has used these powers and if you read his media release it’s all sunshine and puppies:

The five to seven storey building between Marcus Clarke and Kingsley streets will provide accommodation for more than 550 students, retail and commercial space, community facilities and additional city car parking. It is to be built to best practice residential standards.

“This is an extremely important project for Canberra. It will help provide more low-cost accommodation for students, something the Government believes is important to supporting our economy.

This planning approval means the project can get underway now, making it eligible for around $66 million in Commonwealth funding that will directly benefit the ACT. The project will help deliver a more vibrant city, more accommodation in the city centre and more retail and commercial space.

They can certainly deliver joined up government when they want to.

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bd8410:39 pm 28 Aug 10

Bloody typical of that idiot Barr, using his power to override proper process. Not only does the community space get lost, so does all the public car parking in City West, with no adequate car parking as part of the new development. They aim to create a vibrant City West with all the new development, but they have now successfully built on the 1000 car parks in the area that allowed workers and visitors to come to the area, with no other options because the bus service is useless. Congratulations Barr, you are a moron.

JessP11:13 am 27 Aug 10

more retail and commercial space….

has anyone been in Garema Place recently and seen all the empty reail spaces? Do we really need more?

In the loss of McGregor Hall, why can any lucky developer provide community space of equal size in the new building?? Then all those people and clubs who were regular users of McGregor hall would still have the opportunity to continue in the same locale?

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