Page 1915 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
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… that the site of the Phillip Pool and Ice Skating Rink be included in the proposed detailed master plan for the Phillip Oval site.
This was also supported and adopted as part of the draft variation.
Further changes were made to the final variation regarding the protection for sporting and recreational uses; controlled development and tight limits around the Phillip pool site; and the management of the redevelopment of the pool site. In addition, the whole of the balance of Phillip oval site, not including the two Launceston Street corner parcels, have been retained as restricted access recreation land use policy.
An additional clause was incorporated into the written statement for height controls for commercial precinct B areas north of Launceston Street to ensure that any development on the site adjoining the Phillip pool does not impact on the use of the pool. It states that development on the site for uses other than a swimming pool and ice-skating rink shall be restricted to the southern portion of the block. Redevelopment of the site will still accommodate an outdoor area to the north of the block, which would not be overshadowed by taller building elements to the south.
It should be noted here that there are currently no restrictions in the existing entertainment, accommodation and leisure or restricted access recreational policies that would limit building heights in the precinct. The Woden Valley Community Council, in representations to Dr Foskey, Minister Barr and the Chief Minister, raised concerns primarily relating to the retention of recreational facilities and building height restrictions in the northern precinct and future provisions for community facilities in the Woden town centre.
The current entertainment, accommodation and leisure land use policy over the northern precinct does not ensure retention of existing recreational facilities, except for the Phillip pool, which is protected by the existing 8M area specific policy overlay. The policy allows a range of other options that the lessee could pursue even if variation No 259 did not proceed. The proposed commercial precinct B land use policy will provide a greater range of options. It will continue to make provision for all of the existing facilities, but will not ensure their retention, except for the Phillip pool and the ice-skating rink, which will be incorporated into precinct B controls in the territory plan written statement.
In the past, the basketball and bowling club located on section 24 were provided by a community club. That subsequently divested its interests in the area of Woden. The leases on both sites were deconcessionalised and sold in the private market. In the case of the basketball club, a superior four-court facility was constructed in Tuggeranong to meet the changing needs of Basketball Canberra. Given that the facilities are not in community or government ownership, it is not reasonable for the government to guarantee the continuation of existing activities irrespective of the land use policy. The preparation of a section master plan would not necessarily protect these uses, as higher order uses are currently permitted under the existing policy. Any continuation will depend on the sustainability of these activities—to continue operating in their present capacity.
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