2 September 2023

Public consultation opens on promised Acton Waterfront park

| Claire Fenwicke
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Artist impression of Acton Park

An artist’s impression of what’s planned for the Acton Waterfront park. Photo: ACT Government.

Canberrans can now have their voices heard on the proposed design for the Acton Waterfront.

The National Capital Authority’s (NCA) public consultation on the works approval application, which includes the construction of a temporary park and a permanent park, is open for comment.

The interim park will serve as the settlement ground for the reclaimed land, while the permanent park will contain play spaces, gardens, toilets, pavilions and event spaces.

Key features proposed for the new lakefront park include food and beverage facilities, cultural signage trails and shade structure.

Other proposed infrastructure includes Ngunnawal nature play, Ngunnawal artworks, native meadow planting, food kiosk, accessible and shared paths, emergency vehicles access routes, areas for events, and lighting and wayfinding.

The NCA will not be seeking feedback on the proposal to expand West Basin, project management or costs.

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Feedback needs to be provided before 5 pm on Friday, 22 September.

An online ‘drop-in’ session will be held, which interested people will need to register for.

Other questions about Acton Waterfront or the works approval application can be directed to the City Renewal Authority on 6207 2879.

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Nick Stevens6:20 am 05 Sep 23

Why not keep the concept simple? Looks cluttered and messy, probably OK for those with a rock fetish.

Looking at the concept illustrations, they won’t be doing that. See the kids play areas? 1. Kids playing around water among rocks, nowhere for parents to sit and watch. 2. See the boys playing on the edge-on railway sleepers above deep, narrow, confined-space gaps? Nice way to break a leg. Yeah, they won’t be doing that either.

The City Renewal Authority was directly highlighting the newish Henry Rolland Park at the north west edge of Commonwealth Bridge as an example of the fantastic site activation they can achieve through these tens of millions of dollars inner city park developments. I walk past Henry Rolland park either at lunchtime or after work a number of times each week. It is generally completely empty or maybe has a few people at most.

You can add a hundred people to a design drawing, but it doesn’t make it a massive success. Surely there’s better locations for a development like this.

Trish O'Connor9:57 pm 03 Sep 23

Lots of lovely concrete and no room for randomness – why do the designers think that we like to be pushed along wide concrete paths with metal seating and prescribed picnic tables. You only have to look at the current design of the section from Commonwealth Bridge to see how it will look.

By “randomness” do you mean delinquent behaviour? Nope, think I prefer the concrete!

Trish O'Connor5:13 pm 04 Sep 23

No I mean that people can walk in open spaces, sit on the grass under trees, make their own way as is the case now in the area etc and not be confined to being pushed along paths and pushed into designated sitting, walking areas. The new section from Commonwealth bridge is a prime example of this stark approach to community “parks and recreation” facilities, mostly concrete and bugger all trees and grass.. Wide open spaces with lots of grass and trees please.

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