Page 3902 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
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The importance of neighbourhood centres to the viability of local shopping centres and other community groups cannot be understated. Groups that use the centres include cultural, educational, social, recreational, sporting, mental health and dance groups. As mentioned above, neighbourhood centres contribute to community development and cohesion by targeting parenting and young parents, personal development, migrant settlement services, aged care and support, community aid, disability support and other life skills.
Though not specifically implied in their lease conditions and memorandum of provisions, neighbourhood centres nevertheless play a key role in environmental sustainability. For instance, they may take part in tree-planting activities to offset vehicle greenhouse emissions, or forest renewal and, through the renew community infrastructure and facilities program, educate the community to more efficiently use energy and water consumption.
Another example of successful community building is the ’round town program. It has targeted events and has a program reaching a broad range of Canberra residents, from youth to senior citizens, over a wide number of locations in the territory that other events may miss. The events are therefore accessible to everyone in the community. The program aims to promote and maximise the use of the Department of Territory and Municipal Services parks and public places. It provides free entertainment for the population of Canberra, with an emphasis on families and young people. It enlivens the city centre and it enhances community access to and participation in the arts and other cultural activities.
Consequently, ’round town events address several of the government’s social priorities as outlined in the Canberra plan. Some events are also timed to celebrate major events in the community such as the New Year’s Eve, Father’s Day and Mother’s Day activities. The ’round town program has gone from strength to strength. It has grown in scope and attracted interested participation from across the community.
The government is committed to implementing the strategic direction of the spatial plan to create a sustainable pattern of urban settlement in the ACT and region. A well-planned city reduces the ecological footprint of urban settlements, reducing the impact of urban activities on our climate and at the same time allowing the city to adapt to altered climates.
The ACT government is committed to the revitalisation of local centres, as they are seen as an essential community infrastructure, in particular catering for groups with low mobility such as the old and the young. Traditionally, the shops consisted of a small supermarket and functions such as butchers, greengrocers, bakers, hairdressers and chemists. They have been susceptible to the changing demographics of suburbs—older and smaller households have lower expenditure—as well as the changing shopping pattern brought about by longer trading hours at larger centres, increased car usage and increasing participation of women in the work force.
In response to the socioeconomic conditions and to facilitate change at local centres, the range of uses permitted was increased and incentives in the form of reduced change of use charges were introduced to help revitalise these local centres. Some
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