Page 806 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015
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(h) that ACTION and Qcity buses have a fare-sharing arrangement whereby Oaks Estate residents can catch a Qcity bus and pay ACTION fares and transfer to other ACTION services for free; and
(i) the ACT Government is committed to supporting crime and safety management in Oaks Estate and ACT policing directs additional resources aimed at detecting, disrupting and preventing anti-social and criminal behaviour; and
(2) calls on the Government to continue to work with residents, including the Oaks Estate Progress Association on the implementation of the Oaks Estate Master Plan and continue to work with the community to address issues of social disadvantage.”.
In 2012 the ACT government commenced the Oaks Estate master plan in response to concerns raised by the community about the nature of development that has occurred there over time. As Minister for Planning I was delighted to announce the release of the Oaks Estate master plan in December last year and then, subsequent to that, the release of the draft variation to the territory plan, DV328, for community comment in January this year. It is the ACT government’s vision to retain the function and identity of regional villages and towns as distinct places throughout the ACT. The ACT planning strategy recommends that master plans set out guidelines to retain the character of these villages while allowing for limited growth and I am confident that this master plan does that.
The master plan aims to improve traffic movement and the public domain and harmonise land uses to maintain what is valued by the community in the area. The historic residential area is protected with the introduction of site coverage to ensure the vi1lage’s landscape and semi-rural character are maintained. Building setbacks and fence heights are also introduced to build on the existing mix within the village. The master plan recommends developing a sense of entry and arrival into Oaks Estate to provide a sense of identity and to help improve traffic safety at intersections along Railway Street, at McEwan Avenue and Oaks Estate Road.
The master plan also aims to promote healthy living for the community by recommending improved connectivity for walking and cycling in and around the village. The Molonglo and Queanbeyan rivers are important assets to Oaks Estate and to the Oaks Estate community. The master plan acknowledges this and proposes a new historic walk that connects back to the village core to further enhance the recreational value of the river corridor.
While preserving and protecting what is dearly valued in Oaks Estate by local residents, the master plan also allows for some opportunity for the village to develop and moderately grow into the future. The master plan proposes to concentrate new development in the village core that provides housing choice, adaptable working and living space opportunities and accommodation for small-scale business and craft workshops. Providing new development opportunities for this area will allow the village core to become a more livable and sustainable hub for the community.
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