Valley Voice Issue 2 - March 2011

8/7/2019 Valley Voice Issue 2 - March 2011

1/8

Tuggeranong Community Council Newsletter Issue 2: March 2011

Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 1

CONTENTS PAGE

Work to commence soon on DataCentre site 1

Planning overhauled in PS shake up 2

Hume industrial expansion begins 3

Maureen takes out top gong 3

Seniors dig in for new centre 4

Call for Festival team and ideas 4

New vision for Kambah 4

Combined Councils draw up action plan 5

Heritage grants 5

NCA Forum 5

Justice system in the spotlight 5

Harvesting a new crop in the community 6

Cyclists ride against compo Bill 6

Help to clear Valley wood smoke 7

Cooma supports Park and Ride 7

News in brief 7

Good planning with and for the community 8

Works associated with the constructionof the Hume Data Centre are expectedto commence soon. Meanwhile the in-stallation of a gas pipeline is well under-way to service an expanded Hume In-dustrial Estate and a land sale notice hasappeared on the site of the old HumeSaw Mill. (See separate story on page 2)

All the activity at Hume has raised the

interest of local residents, especiallythose involved in the lengthy struggleagainst a proposed gas fired power sta-tion and data centre.

Senior Development Manager for Chal-lenger, Karlyn Maldonado, said the pipe-line was being laid by ActewAGL.

We understand that residents havemade enquiries of the TuggeranongCommunity Council regarding the layingof gas pipes along the Monaro Highway,prompting requests for an update on the

progress of the Technology CampusCanberra, Ms Maldonado said.

Our understanding, which has subse-quently been confirmed by ActewAGL, is

that this pipeline is part of the essentialservices infrastructure that will facilitatethe ongoing creation of the ACT govern-ments eastern employment corridor,consistent with the objectives of the Can-berra Spatial Plan and Eastern Broada-cre Economic and Strategic PlanningStudy, she said.

As for the Technology Campus, our

planned investment in local infrastructurehas not yet commenced, but is expectedto do so in coming months. This will in-clude the provision of sewerage, storm-water and water infrastructure, as well asthe extension of John Cory Road andassociated landscaping and street light-ing. The campus itself will be built instages once tenant pre-commitment isobtained.

Full development of the TechnologyCentre in coming years would see45,200 sqm for data halls constructed

alongside 40 megawatts of power gen-eration capacity (28 megawatts produc-tion and 12 megawatts back up), whichis only 40% of the capacity originallycontemplated at the Mugga Lane site.

Works to commence soon at Data Centre site

An artists impression of the proposed Hume Data Centre.

The gas tri-generation technology to beemployed by the Technology Centre isproven and currently in use at CanberraAirport and at various medical facilities

around the world. The Technology Cen-tre will help ensure that government andpublic data is stored and protected adja-cent to the Australian Capital. It is alsoexpected to reduce the migration of ITsector employment and expertise toother states.

We look forward to providing furtherupdates as the status of the TechnologyCentre progresses and welcome anydirect enquiries from residents, MsMaldonado concluded.

Meanwhile residents who objected to theproject were labelled as NIMBYs (Not InMy Backyard).

Cont on page 2


2/8


From page 1 (Works to commence soonat Hume Data Centre)

At one point there were over 4500 resi-dents from all over Canberra signed upto the cause.

Not only were residents concerned thatthe proposed development was too closeto homes, they also questioned the wayin which the ACT Government had dealt

with the sale of the land and aspects ofthe original development application.They also believed little or no unbiasedstudies had been undertaken into its fullimpact on the environment and on resi-dents.

After a long campaign the communityeventually scored some successes whenthe proposed site was moved, if only alittle further away from homes. And thenit was announced the project had beenscaled down and ActewAGL had pulledout of the consortium. However, this has

not eased their major concerns overnoise and air pollution from the gas tur-bines.

The residents campaign has been ledby Canberrans for Power Station Relo-cation (CPR) President Bill Reid, whobelieves the threat from large pollutinggas turbines is still very real.

He said the land was sold and approvalgiven for the complex to be built withoutthe need for an EIS to be completed. Hesaid although it is now smaller the scopestill exists for the developer to installadditional gas turbines at a later date ifthey wished.

Being roughly equidistant from the Tug-geranong and Woden town centres andJerrabomberra, this should be of con-cern to all Canberrans, especially con-sidering there has been talk of compara-ble data centres being built in Belcon-nen, he said.

Mr Reid says CPR has never been op-posed to the development of a data cen-tre or the creation of jobs in Tugger-

anong. What we object to is the use ofgas turbines (to power the proposedfacility) so close to a residential area, headded.

While our calls for a full independentenvironmental impact study have beenignored (and the need for one has sincebeen waived by the Stanhope Govern-ment), our research shows that the ex-haust gas plume (187,000 tonnes perhour) generated by the gas turbines,each weighing 75 tonnes far largerthan a jumbo jet engine - will cover east-

ern Tuggeranong, Hume, most of Wodenthe Alexander Maconochie Centre andthe proposed new suburbs of Tralee. Itmay also interfere with the flight path toCanberra Airport, he said.

Planning overhauled in PSshake up

Future planning and development in theACT is set for a major shake up. TheACT Planning and Land Authority(ACTPLA) and Land DevelopmentAgency (LDA) could be abolished and

ACTPLA moved into a new directorate ofsustainable development. Chief MinisterJon Stanhope has announced that theACT Government was to adopt the pro-posal recommended by the Hawke Re-view into the ACT public service to es-tablish a single agency, of nine director-ates as the administrative basis of theACT Public Service.

Mr. Stanhope said that last month heflagged that, 21 years after beinggranted self-government, the time wasright for significant structural changes to

allow greater coordination between ar-eas of the bureaucracy."The government has considered in de-tail many of the Hawke recommenda-tions and has today decided to proceedwith a crucial first step through the crea-tion of a single and cohesive ACT PublicService Agency, designed to best meetthe needs and challenges of the ACT asa city-state."

The single agency model will report to asingle Chief Executive through nine di-rectorates, each headed by a Director-General. The new position of Head ofService will also serve as Director-General of the Chief Minister's Depart-ment. The directorates are: Chief Minis-ter's, Treasury, Community Services,Economic Development, Education andTraining, Health, Justice and CommunitySafety, Sustainable Development andTerritory and Municipal Services Mr.Andrew Cappie-Wood will be appointedHead of Service and Director-General ofthe Chief Minister's Directorate. Themost significant changes to the ACTPSrelate to the Economic Development andSustainable Development directorates.

The Economic Development Directorate,to be headed by Mr. David Dawes, willhave primary responsibility for workingwith the business community in relationto economic development and businesssupport programs, the design and deliv-ery of the government's land releaseprogram, tourism and events and sportand recreation.Mr. Dawes will also fulfill the role of Co-ordinator-General, which was integral tothe successful delivery of economicstimulus measures in 2009-10 during the

height of the Global Financial Crisis.

Building on Dr Hawke's recommenda-tions, the government has decided to

bring together responsibility for business,tourism and events in this directorate,together with responsibility for the opera-tion of major venues including CanberraStadium, Stromlo Forest Park, Manuka

Oval and EPIC and for government ser-vices and support to the sport and rec-reation sector. The Economic Develop-ment Directorate will continue to be re-sponsible for the strategic managementof the Government's property portfolio,but ownership and responsibility for day-to-day repairs and maintenance will re-turn to the Territory and Municipal Ser-vices Directorate.

The Sustainable Development Director-ate, to be headed by Mr. David Papps,will bring together elements of the

ACTPS with responsibilities in the plan-ning and development sphere. These willinclude planning policy (including trans-port planning), environmental policiesand programs, heritage and the Govern-ment Architect and the ACT Planningand Land Authority (ACTPLA). Overallresponsibility for planning policy will vestin Mr. Papps as Director-General withsome formal statutory powers primarilyrelated to development approvals, toremain the responsibility of the ChiefPlanning Executive.

The Directors-General will formally com-mence their new roles on 1 July 2011however, work will commence immedi-ately on the integration and alignment ofroles, responsibilities and administrationto reflect the new arrangements. Toensure greater coordination and align-ment of effort across the one govern-ment' model, a new ACT Public ServiceStrategic Board, chaired by the Head ofthe Service and comprising all other Di-rectors- General has already been cre-ated and is meeting regularly.

In a departure from recommendations of

Dr Hawke, the Government has decidedthat responsibilities for CIT and voca-tional education will remain with the Min-ister for Education and Training andCanberra Connect will remain within theDepartment of Territory and MunicipalServices.

"I am confident this new structure, andfurther changes resulting from theHawke Review and still to be an-nounced, will lead the change manage-ment and cultural changes required toembed a new way of working which is

essential to the success of the new sin-gle agency model," Mr. Stanhope added.


3/8

The Land Development Agency (LDA),on behalf of the ACT Government, iscommencing construction of an industrialestate at Hume, to be known as NewWest Industry Park.

New West Industry Park is approximately56ha in size, including open spaces,roads and verges. It is located to thesouth-west of the suburb of Hume, withfrontage to the Monaro Highway.

The site has a Territory Plan land use

zoning of IZ1, General Industrial. It isprimarily used as horse agistment pad-docks and, prior to that, was used forgrazing purposes.

The approved Estate Development Planenables the site to be divided into 34blocks with a range of block sizes andconfigurations. It is anticipated that deliv-ery of New West Industry Park will beachieved in three construction stagesover a five year program, depending onmarket demand.

Hume industrial expansion begins

excess food from restaurants and super-markets for distribution to charities andrefuges.

"Over 700,000 meals have been sup-plied to Canberrans since the operationbegan in February 2008," Mr. Stanhopesaid.

"Ms Cane's extraordinary and long-termcommitment to helping some of the mostvulnerable in our community makes herone of our finest citizens."

Community advocate and not-for-profitorganization CEO, Maureen Cane, hasbeen named the 2011 Canberra Citizenof the Year.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope made theannouncement at a special ceremonycoincide with Canberra's 98th birthdaycelebrations.

In presenting the award to Ms Cane, Mr.Stanhope said,

"Her decade as Chief Executive Officer

of Communities@Work has beenmarked by the organisation's success inproviding valuable services to our com-munity in the areas of disability support,aged care, and family services.

"Under Ms Cane's guidance, Communi-ties@Work now provides services to anestimated 140,000 Canberrans a yearand employs 360 staff and 200 volun-teers.

"It is also recognised nationally as a reg-istered training organisation for commu-

nity services and health industries."

Mr. Stanhope said Ms Cane was instru-mental in the establishment of the Can-berra arm of OzHarvest, which collects

Maureen takes out top gong

Around 100 guests attended a specialfunction on 8 March to farewell Maureen

Cane as Communities@Work CEO. Picturedare Maureens husband Peter (far left), DawnMcKay, Maureen Cane and former president

of Tuggeranong Community Service (nowCommunities@Work) Peter McKay.

Staging will be influenced by terrain andinfrastructure services, as well as thecosts associated with construction ofeach stage. Staging will also be influ-enced by the Governments Land Re-lease Program.

Courage and Tralee Homesteads arewithin the site area. The homesteadsand surrounding areas have, however,been heritage listed and excluded fromthe development.

The LDA undertook public consultationduring planning for the estate. The de-velopment application was publicly noti-fied as part of the approval process anda recent letter box drop advised nearbybusinesses that construction will be com-mencing shortly.

Meanwhile, ActewAGL has commenced

major capital works to enhance the ca-pacity and reliability of natural gas supplyto Hume and Tuggeranong to meet fu-ture commercial and residential growth inthese areas.

Stage one of the project, which is cur-rently underway, involves installing2.4km of natural gas main along theMonaro Highway between Lanyon Driveand Tralee Street, Hume. Stage one isdue for completion late April 2011. Thisproject will be completed in three stages:

Stage one Installation of gas

main along the Monaro High-way between Lanyon Drive andTralee Street, Hume due forcompletion in April 2011.

Stage two Construction of a5km main between Narrabun-dah and Hume, together withthe construction a new pressureregulating station in Humecommencing April 2012.

Stage three Construction of afurther 5.3km of natural gasmain along the Monaro High-way and Isabella Drive down to

Ashley Drive, Monash com-mencing 2013.

The project is estimated to cost $15 mil-lion and due for completion by winter2013.

ActewAGL Manager Gas Networks,Macleay Connelly said, based on fore-casted natural gas demand growth, Acte-wAGL is further investing in its naturalgas network through project like this toensure we can meet the expected peakdemands for the areas of Tuggeranong,Hume, Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberrapost 2013.

Article supplied by Land DevelopmentAgency and ActewAGL



4/8


The Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club reacheda new milestone recently with the turningof the first sod for the new TuggeranongSenior Citizens Centre.

The new centre is being constructed ona site in Cowlishaw Street Greenway.

Minister for Community Services and

Member for Brindabella, Joy Burch, wasgiven the honour of turning the first sodmarking commencement of works. Shewas joined by outgoing Communities@Work CEO, Maureen Cane and 55Plus Club President, Rusty Woodward.

The ceremony was also attended byabout 50 guests and members of the 55Plus Club.

Ms Woodward said the day marked theculmination of a Communities@Workand ACT Government initiative dating

back to 2008.

Ms Woodward said the facility will be ahome-from-home for Tuggeranong resi-dents 50 years of age and over.She said the Club currently operates outof the Communities@Work Communityand Function Centre.

Having a permanent home will enablemore flexibility of activities and a safeand welcoming meeting place for theseniors of the area.

The Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club was in-corporated in January 2010 and hasbeen actively involved in the develop-ment of the new centre. Members areeagerly awaiting the completion of this

development, she added.

The building has been designed by ar-chitects Collins Caddaye to make bestuse of its location on the shores of LakeTuggeranong.

Ms Woodward said it will be a centre thatthe residents of Tuggeranong will appre-

ciate for many years to come.

Ms Burch said the new centre will helpreduce the social isolation experiencedby many older people, encourage themto remain in contact with their communityand pass on their life skills and experi-ence.

The building will include a large hall thatwill be used for a variety of activities andtwo smaller rooms that can be used formeetings or casual gatherings, MsBurch said.

The site is well located for the largecatchment area of Tuggeranong, is eas-ily accessed by public transport andclose to shops and other services.

It sits between a child care centre andLake Tuggeranong College. That willprovide an opportunity for interactionbetween seniors using the centre, stu-dents and young children, Ms Burchadded.

For more information on the Tugger-anong 55 Plus Club visit: http://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspx

Seniors dig in for new centre

L to R: Minister Joy Burch, 55 Plus Club President, Rusty Woodward and Communities@Work

CEO, Maureen Cane, turn the first sod for the new Tuggeranong Senior Citizens Centre.

Photo: courtesy of the Southside Chronicle

Planning for the 23rd Tuggeranong Fes-tival is underway and the call has goneour for volunteers and new ideas tomake the event even bigger and better.

Festival President, Michael Lindfield saidthe Festival relies on the voluntary contri-butions from community groups, localbusinesses, associations, sporting bod-ies and individuals.

He said volunteering is a great way tocontribute to your community and can bepersonally rewarding.

The Festival invites members of thepublic to share their skills, experienceand ideas with the rest of the community.Your level of involvement is entirely up to

you, he added.

For more information go to the Festivalswebsite www.tuggeranongfestival.org .auor contact the Secretary, Holly Keenan [email protected].

Call for Festival

team and ideas

The ACT Planning and Land Authority

(ACTPLA) has begun a master planningstudy for the Kambah Group Centre toinvestigate a range of potential options toupdate and reinvigorate the centre overthe next 20-30 years.

ACTPLA is seeking the communitysviews on:

1. How we can make it a more sus-tainable, interesting and vibrantplace

2. What we can do to ensure thelocal shops and services remain

viable3. If the surrounding vacant land canbe used to support the communityin future.

Community information display

When: Saturday 9 April 2011

Where: Kambah Village ShoppingCentre (outside Woolworths)

Time: 11am 2pm (ACTPLAplanners will be on hand to dis-cuss the study so feel free to dropin any time between 11 and 2).

For more information please visit theACTPLA website at:www.actpla.act.gov.au/Kambah or [email protected].

New vision for

Kambah
http://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://tuggeranongfestival.org.au/mailto:[email protected]?subject=Inquiryhttp://www.actpla.act.gov.au/favicon.icomailto:[email protected]?subject=Kambah%20Inquirymailto:[email protected]?subject=Kambah%20Inquiryhttp://www.actpla.act.gov.au/favicon.icomailto:[email protected]?subject=Inquiryhttp://tuggeranongfestival.org.au/http://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspxhttp://www.commsatwork.org/Seniors/Tuggeranong55PlusClubInc/tabid/319/Default.aspx


5/8


The Combined Community Councils ofCanberra are formulating a list of actionareas that will be used to lobby the ACTGovernment and Opposition in the leadup to the 2014 ACT Election. High on thelist are the issues of planning and devel-opment in the ACT, future populationgrowth and public transport.

Councils have a unique

opportunity between now andthe next election

The Combined Community Councilsmeeting was held on Saturday, 19 Marchand hosted by Woden Valley CommunityCouncil.

The meeting was attended by represen-tatives of Gungahlin, Belconnen, WestonCreek, North Canberra, Inner South and

Tuggeranong Community Councilsalong with representatives of the Jer-rabomberra Residents Association.Combined Community Councils meetingchairperson, Dr Jenny Stewart, told thegathering that Councils have a uniqueopportunity between now and the nextelection to ensure that the governmentand opposition parties clearly articulatedtheir policies on the action areas identi-

fied by Councils.

In formulating the list of action areas,Inner South Canberra Community Coun-cil Chairman, Kevin Gill, highlighted con-cerns over the disposal of land originallygranted for public use under conces-sional lease arrangements.

He pointed to examples where there hadbeen attempts to sell land for future de-velopment that had originally been set

aside as community sporting or recrea-tion areas. Following discussion a motionwas passed calling on the ACT Govern-ment to ensure that land under conces-sional lease can only be sold on the con-dition that money raised from the sale isreturned to the local community in the

form of other public amenities.

Planning and development was againhigh on the agenda in presentations byManaging Director of Doma Group, JureDomazet, and convenor of the DicksonResidents Group, noted Canberra citizenand activist, Marie Coleman.

Mr Domazet, who has recently beenappointed President of the ACT Divisionof the Property Council of Australia,spoke on his experiences as a propertydeveloper and dealing with governmentand the community.

He said his company had engaged thecommunity at many levels and on manyprojects. He pointed to recent DomaGroup Projects such as the Hotel Realm,Sirius Building and Aviation House inWoden as examples.

Mr. Domazet added that he found Coun-cils unique community consultation fo-rums and said he had a good workingrelationship with Woden Valley Commu-nity Council. However, Mr. Domazet ad-mitted the processes can be extremely

long and exhaustive for some develop-ers.

Ms Coleman reflected on the relationshipbetween the community and develop-ment, and how community members canbest influence government.

(See page 7 for an edited version of MsColemans address)

Combined Councils draw up action plan

Inner South Canberra Community Council Chairperson, Kevin Gill, addressed members of theCombined Community Councils meeting.

Member for Canberra, Gai BrodtmannMP, has invited community organisationsto apply for Community Heritage Grantsof up to $15,000.

The grants are available to historicalsocieties, regional museums, public li-braries community and other not-for-profit organizations.

The funding will assist work in preservingheritage collections of national signifi-cance.

For more information visit:www.nla.gov.au/chg or phone 62621147.

Heritage grants

ACT Attorney General, Simon Corbellhas agreed to address the next TCCmeeting on the ACT Justice system.

Mr. Corbell recently announced that theACT Government will introduce reformsto the process of election for judge-alonetrials and re-affirm the important role ofjuries in serious criminal trials.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday,5 April commencing at 7.30pm in theupstairs conference room of the Tugger-anong Southern Cross Club at Green-way.

Justice systemin the spotlightNCA forumThe National Capital Authority (NCA) isinviting the community to a public forumon Wednesday 13 April, in the AustralianWar Memorial theatre from 6pm.

The forum is an opportunity for the publicto help guide the decisions that willshape the national capital of the future.NCA members and senior staff will an-swer questions on the planning, promo-tion, enhancement, and maintenance ofthe national capital. To post your ques-tions for discussion or RSVP please visit:

www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursay.
http://www.nla.gov.au/chghttp://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursayhttp://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursayhttp://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursayhttp://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursayhttp://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/haveyoursayhttp://www.nla.gov.au/chg


6/8


A welcome voice

Welcome to the Valley Voice, Tugger-anong Community Councils newsletter.

Valley Voiceis designed to inform Valleyresidents of issues that impact on themand to act as a vehicle for other commu-nity groups and organisations to commu-nicate with residents.

Valley Voicewill be produced on a regu-lar basis and will be circulated amongstTCC members and beyond. If you wishto receive copies of Valley Voice in thefuture please email [email protected].

Meanwhile if you have articles or imagesyou wish to contribute to Valley Voiceplease email them to [email protected].

Please feel free to pass Valley Voiceonto those who you think will be interestedin its contents.

____________

Valley Voiceis published by the Tugger-anong Community Council (TCC). Mate-rial in this publication comes from a vari-ety of community and government basedsources and therefore does not neces-sarily reflect the views of the TCC.

Material submitted to the TCC for inclu-sion in Valley Voicemay be subject toeditorial changes. Material that includesdates, times and contact details is cor-rect at the time of publishing. Therefore,the TCC cannot be held responsible if it

is not informed of any changes to thatinformation prior to publication.

Tuggeranong Community Council.E: [email protected]: www.tuggcc.com

OzHarvest is celebrating its third birth-day working for the Canberra commu-nity.

OzHarvest is a non-denominational

charity that rescues excess food whichwould otherwise be discarded.

OzHarvest Manager, David Burnet, saysthis excess food is distributed to charitiessupporting the vulnerable in Canberra.OzHarvest Canberra has been operat-ing since February 2008 and has deliv-ered over 800,000 meals to more than57 charities and refuges in Canberra andQueanbeyan. To date we have savedover 250 tonnes of good food from beingwasted. Our food donors include foodretailers, restaurants, event caterers,manufacturers, institutions and corporateoffices, he said.

Mr. Burnet said OzHarvest believes that

good food should not go to waste.In fact, by distributing it to those in need,we turn excess food into a resource andsave thousands of kilograms of foodfrom being dumped as landfill each

year, he added.

Food is generously donated by thosewith excess supplies. By distributing thisfood to various charities, we assist themto better and more efficiently address theunderlying social problems in our soci-ety. With this support charities, are ableto redirect funding to programs assistingthose who are disadvantaged, Mr. Bur-net said.

OzHarvest Canberra is managed andsupported by Communities@Work, acommunity based not-for-profit organisa-tion in the ACT. Communities@Work isthe major sponsor and generator offunds for OzHarvest Canberra.

Harvesting a new crop in thecommunity

OzHarvest volunteers hard at work collecting food donations.

Tuggeranong Community Council Inc. (TCC)

is an incorporated, voluntary, not for profit, nonpolitical, community based association operatingwithin the Tuggeranong district of the Australian

Capital Territory.

TCC is formally recognised as the peak communityrepresentative body in Tuggeranong promoting the

goals and aspirations of local residents and othercommunity groups and organisations within the

Tuggeranong Valley. TCC receives partial fundingfrom the ACT Government.

Pedal Power ACT has expressed con-cerns over the ACT Governmentsmoves to reform compensation entitle-ments for motor crash victims includingcyclists.

Pedal Power has written to the Govern-ment calling on it to reconsider its pro-posals and not proceed with the newlegislation in its current form.

It has also called on the Greens andLiberals asking them to send the Bill to acommittee where it can be discussed indetail and the public can have its say.

For more information visit: http://

www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.

Cyclists ride against compo Bill
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voicemailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voicemailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voicehttp://www.tuggcc.com/favicon.icohttp://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40825/default.asp.http://www.tuggcc.com/favicon.icomailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voicemailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voicemailto:[email protected]?subject=Re:%20Valley%20Voice


7/8

Domestic wood smoke can trigger asthmaattacks.

Why fork out all that money on a

walking frame when you can get a free

shopping trolley from the lake?

Minister for the Environment, ClimateChange and Water, Simon Corbell hasencouraged Valley residents to replacetheir wood heaters this winter with a newnatural gas heater. Mr. Corbell made thecomment while launching the 2011Wood Heater Replacement Program.

"Wood smoke has a detrimental impacton air quality in the ACT, particularly inthe Tuggeranong Valley, and this pro-gram is an important way that individualhouseholds can help to protect our envi-ronment," Mr. Corbell said.

The Wood Heater Replacement Programis a partnership between the ACT Gov-ernment and ActewAGL and encouragespeople to remove, and replace theirwood heater with a new mains-suppliednatural gas heater.

"Since the program was launched in2004, 894 wood heaters have been re-placed with cleaner heating alternatives,"Mr. Corbell said.

"There are great incentives for Valleyresidents to make the change from woodheaters to gas heaters, with the rebatefor replacing wood heaters with ductedgas systems remaining at $800, and$600 for new flued gas installations.

TCC President, Darryl Johnston said hewelcomed the continuation of the WoodHeater Buyback Program in Canberra.

Its one of the most generous schemesin Australia. However, I am disappointedthat this scheme does not also give Val-ley residents the choice of transferring toan efficient form of electric heating, suchas an electric heat pump or reverse cycleair conditioning. It must be recognisedthat many residents are not on the natu-ral gas grid and, although they want to,they can not take advantage of this pro-gram.

He said that while he agreed there had

been a reduction of wood smoke pollu-tion in Tuggeranong many neighbour-hoods with large numbers of wood heat-

ers still suffer high to extremely high lev-els of fine particle air pollutionevery win-ter.

He said according to the Australian Bu-reau of Statistics (ABS) and the ACT

Government less than 4 per cent of Can-berra households burn wood for domes-tic heating, yet the Federal Govern-ments National Pollution Inventorystates they generate 67 percent of Can-berras PM10 air pollution compared to22 percent from vehicles.

Mr. Johnston added that after more than25 years of health and environmentalresearch it has been proven that domes-tic wood smoke pollution has real serioushealth impacts, similar to that from ciga-rette smoke.

Wood smoke affects the health of thevery young, the elderly and those withexisting heart and lung conditions.

The Australian Lung Foundation (ALF)estimates that about 30,000 people livein the ACT with some form of degenera-tive lung disease. Many of these resi-dents are imprisoned in their homes ontheir doctors advice because ofneighbourhood winter wood smoke pollu-tion, he said.

For more information visit http://www.environment.act.gov.au/or callCanberra Connect on 13 22 81.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sharing land

Landshare Australia brings together peo-ple who have a passion for home-grownfood, connecting those who have land toshare with those who need land for culti-vating food.

The concept of Landshare began in theUK, launched through the River Cottagetelevision program in 2009, and hassince grown into a thriving community ofmore than 57,000 growers, sharers andhelpers across the country.

Now that Landshare is here in Australia,we welcome you to come and take partin this fantastic initiative. Landshare isfor people who:

Want to grow vegetables but don'thave anywhere to do it;

Have a spare bit of land they're pre-pared to share;

Can help in some way sharingknowledge, lending tools, etc;

Support the idea of freeing up moreland for growing;

Are already growing and want to joinin the community visit: http://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/

Trolleys arrested

The ACT Government has introduced a

scheme aimed at arresting waywardshopping trolleys.

Under the new legislation introduced bythe ACT Greens city rangers and policehave new powers allowing them to directpeople who are taking, using, or leavinga trolley beyond a retail precinct, to re-turn it to the retailer, or to face a fine.

Individuals could face a $60 on-the-spotfine for failing to return a trolley whendirected. Higher fines of up to $1100could apply if an offence was prosecuted

through court. Retailers can be fined iftheir trolleys are littering their local area.

Help to clear Valley wood smoke

Cooma-Monaro Shire Council hasbacked plans for a commuter park andride facility at Calwell. Councillors re-solved to formally support the proposedCalwell Park and Ride concept at theirmeeting on 17 January.

Calwell Park and Ride Project Commit-tee Chairman and Calwell businessman,Nick Tsoulias said, Councillors fully sup-port the Park and Ride concept and are

looking forward to seeing it progress.

He said a park and ride facility wouldgreatly benefit people travelling to theACT from regional centres such asCooma, as well as service the suburbs insouthern Tuggeranong.

For more information on the Calwell Parkand Ride project email Nick Tsoulias:[email protected].

Cooma supports Park and Ride

http://www.tuggcc.com/2010/06/tcc-submission-into-the-act-government-review-of-wood-smoke-education-programshttp://www.tuggcc.com/2010/06/tcc-submission-into-the-act-government-review-of-wood-smoke-education-programshttp://www.lungfoundation.com.au/lung-information/patient-educational-material/fact-sheets/99-woodsmoke-the-burning-issueshttp://www.lungfoundation.com.au/lung-information/patient-educational-material/fact-sheets/99-woodsmoke-the-burning-issueshttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart/your_household/wood_heater_replacement_rebatehttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart/your_household/wood_heater_replacement_rebatehttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart/your_household/wood_heater_replacement_rebatehttp://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/share/images/site/favicon.icohttp://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/share/images/site/favicon.icohttp://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/share/images/site/favicon.icohttp://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/share/images/site/favicon.icohttp://www.landshareaustralia.com.au/share/images/site/favicon.icohttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart/your_household/wood_heater_replacement_rebatehttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart/your_household/wood_heater_replacement_rebatehttp://www.lungfoundation.com.au/lung-information/patient-educational-material/fact-sheets/99-woodsmoke-the-burning-issueshttp://www.tuggcc.com/2010/06/tcc-submission-into-the-act-government-review-of-wood-smoke-education-programs


8/8


Tuggeranong Community Council gratefully acknowledgesthe support of our sponsors.

The following is an edited version of thepresentation to the Combined Commu-nity Council meeting by Convenor of theDickson Residents Group Ms MarieColeman.

ACT governance is unique, a city statewithout a municipal government, thelevel where in other jurisdictions most

planning decisions are taken and com-munity interaction with planning com-monly occurs.

There should never be any doubt thatthere is and should be a symbiotic rela-tionship between government and com-munity. Government should be respon-sive to community aspirations, while nec-essarily being in a position to set finalpriorities for government action/expenditure among competing objec-tives/different interest groups.

This process is generallyextremely poorly handled.

Not every interest group can prevail,there is always need for negotiation, winsome, lose some. Yet all parties oughttry to establish and keep in focus congru-ent longerterm objectives. Discussion,consultation, negotiation; these are al-ways preferable to confrontation andbrush fires in the suburbs where devel-opment is concerned. But there havebeen local brush fires.

Current ACT planning processes puts

the initial responsibility for consultationon individual development applicationswith the developer. This process is gen-erally extremely poorly handled. Subse-quent reconsideration by ACTPLA of arevised development application can

mean that original objectors find littlechange has occurred, leaving open onlya difficult process of appeal through theCivil and Administrative Tribunal. Resi-dents feel disenfranchised and resentful.

A more effective system of original con-

sultation would lead to better outcomesall round, and reduce delays consequenton the appeal processes against dis-puted decisionmaking processes. TheTerritory Plan itself is poorly understoodby most residents, who are commonlyignorant of the zone system, and what ispermitted. In actuality, the residentialzoning system is proving to be the causeof many brush fires. From the outsideobserver perspective so much seems leftto guidelines, and interpretation. Fewresidents in an RZ2 zone expect to find alarge multiunit development in theirmidst. Many miss the opportunity to

make initial comment because the devel-oper is not obligated to undertake widelocal consultation.

Developers as a whole fail toengage with legitimatecommunity concerns.

Developers as a whole fail to engagewith legitimate community concerns. Ifconsequent costs are encountered as aresult of appeals, there is a clear courseof action open, earlier and genuine con-sultation. We have planners who state,publicly, they have no duty to consult.More importantly, we clearly have plan-ners who do not understand that in aWestminster system the elected Govern-ment sets policy, and statutory officeholders execute their duties within theparameters of that policy.

There is a significant problem with thecurrent state of Territory planning law.Only ACTPLA can put forward changesto the Territory Plan. No other body, in-cluding the ACT Government, can pro-mote a new precinct code to have statu-

tory effect. Precinct codes clearly articu-lated would do much to reduce the cur-rent levels of uncertainty, anger and frus-tration.

This is quite extraordinary. In Common-wealth practice, chief executives of statu-tory bodies are answerable to oversight-ing boards or councils appointed by theGovernment.

The ACT Government has created astatutory office which need not recognisethe Governments authority. Only theACT Government can legislate tochange that. The ACT Government hasclearly articulated policies on sustainabil-ity, on housing affordability, on housing

design suited to allow residents to age inplace. The elected Government hasevery right to expect that its officers willwork to put those policies in practice.In my view, the elected ACT Governmentdoes wish to achieve agreed outcomeswith the community on the thorny issuesaround redevelopment of urban areas.There are numbers of individual oneoffconsultation processes currently under-way. But something more is needed.

This may well be a thorough revision ofthe legislation establishing ACTPLA, andensuring that the statutory office holder

of Chief Planner is answerable to theelected government. This revision maybe appropriate as the changes to ACTadministration flow from the recentHawke Report.

Here in Canberra as we look to in-creases in population in a very tightlyconstricted land mass, seeking to simul-taneously achieve policies of afforda-bility, sustainability, and a mix of housingtypes, we must work through issuesaround urban redevelopment, a processwhich will inevitably bring planners and

community into conflict, unless plans aremade with some degree of initial genuinecollaboration.

Good planning is planning withand for the community.

Future concentration of dense develop-ment along major transport routes, andon such brownfield sites as can be iden-tified will lessen the pressures on thesuburbs, and hopefully lead to betterpublic transport. Urban redevelopmentand planning touch many people, and

badly handled can and do lead to gov-ernments losing office. While change isinevitable and cities do grow we mustrecognise that at the core we are dealingwith humans and their environments.Good planning is planning with and forthe community.

Marie Coleman19 March 2011

Good planning with and for the community

Valley Voice Issue 2 - March 2011

Documents

Transcript of Valley Voice Issue 2 - March 2011