Page 84 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 8 February 2022
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However, with Omicron and the rise of flexible work, now is the time for us to think creatively about how we want to enliven, invigorate and populate the Gungahlin town centre. We should be looking at innovative ideas such as digital work hubs, innovation spaces and vertical aged care, as ways to create community and employment opportunities in the town centre. There is also no reason why vacant spaces in Gungahlin cannot be used immediately for the benefit of the community. Home-grown organisations such as Mill House Ventures and Canberra’s many cooperatives already cultivate innovative employment opportunities that could utilise some of these empty retail and shopfronts.
But all of these measures do not address the key issue, which is getting that mix of residential and other uses right. This is something the Gungahlin community has consistently called for. The planning, transport and city services committee report supported the community in this view, recommending:
… apply a maximum number of residential dwellings and a minimum square metre requirement for commercial development permitted for each block to ensure that residential dwellings are not the primary or majority use.
I also made a similar point in my motion passed by this very Assembly on 2 June 2021, which stated:
… structuring all planned Gungahlin Town Centre land sales to ensure their primary purpose is employment generation, commercial and/or community facility use …
Today’s response lacks a commitment to changing that mix, so I will continue to stand up for Gungahlin residents to ensure we get this mix right, whether this be through future land sales or the indicative land release program, because together we can create a Gungahlin town centre that works for everyone.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Leave of absence
Motion (by Ms Lawder) agreed to:
That leave of absence be granted to:
Ms Lee for this sitting week for COVID reasons.
Mr Cain for 8 February 2022 for COVID reasons.
Mrs Jones for the period 8 February to 1 April 2022 for personal reasons.
Crimes (Consent) Amendment Bill 2022
Dr Paterson, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.
Title read by Clerk.
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