Page 4532 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 14 December 1993
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My concerns arise from the fact that, nearly three years since the release of the January 1991 study on options for the use of the former Royal Canberra Hospital site, we seem to be no closer to knowing its future. We are still awaiting the outcome of what seem to be endless processes by the National Capital Planning Authority to come up with a master plan for what is, at the end of the day, Territory land. We have had the same National Capital Planning Authority first reject one site, then offer a second, and then reject outright the building of a purpose built hospice on Acton Peninsula. In my estimation, the community has every right to be confused as to who ultimately controls Acton Peninsula and what the two governments involved want for its future.
We have two community groups at least outlining their priorities for Acton. The first is Canberra Community Action on Acton or the CCAA group. This group has been represented at the recent forums held by the National Capital Planning Authority as part of the process of developing a master plan for the area. Since its establishment, this group has lobbied for the retention of the buildings which exist on Acton Peninsula. As recently as 15 November the CCAA has restated its commitment to its view that the buildings should be recycled. I quote from a letter from the CCAA to Gary Prattley, the acting chief executive of the National Capital Planning Authority, in which the group expresses its appreciation of the opportunity to participate in the urban design forum, but still states:
On balance, we believe that our concept of responsibly recycling the bulk of the existing assets for health and allied uses, in a rejuvenated natural and accessible lake landscape, remains the most appropriate for the Peninsula.
Further on the letter states:
Griffin's designs show substantial buildings on the peninsula, in a relatively tight grouping set apart from the city edge and enhanced by a sweeping expanse of tranquil open space. The existing main buildings (the main tower of the former hospital and Sylvia Curley House) have been sited and aligned virtually exactly as Griffin depicted them in renderings he and his wife prepared.
In addition to conforming to Griffin's design, the existing main buildings are sound and substantial, and retrofitting their facades in passive-solar and natural light conserving ways (as we have proposed) would provide the opportunity for a more appealing architectural expression than they presently possess.
Another group which participated in the urban design forum and which seems to work cooperatively with the CCAA is the ACTon Interest Group or ACTIG. This group, over a period, has formed the view that the community is looking toward the Acton Peninsula site being used as an integrated arts, cultural and health precinct. In October ACTIG released a concept paper on Acton stating:
The existing buildings are a community asset which must be reused.
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