Page 1739 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 9 May 2018
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eastern side of the existing town centre. The proposal included land for commercial, residential and community facilities as well as roads and associated infrastructure. The DA was approved in early 2017, and infrastructure-enabling works have already begun.
Central to the proposal was a linear park that would run north to south between Anthony Rolfe Avenue and the Mulanggari grasslands. This park presents a great opportunity for a quality public space within the Gungahlin town centre. In my work as a member for Yerrabi, I have been heartened by the contributions our community can make to the development of their town centres when given the opportunity.
Most recently, in working with Giralang residents, I found that giving the community a say in what went into a park before a design proposal was developed allowed them to be included and ultimately more satisfied with the outcome. In speaking directly to many Giralang residents we were able to create a quality space that reflected the community.
While the Gungahlin town centre east development is a greenfield development, it is important to note that there is an established community surrounding the site. And one thing that I have come to appreciate in no uncertain terms is that, as a community, the people of Gungahlin want to have their say when it comes to the development of their town centre, and rightly so.
That is why I am ensuring the Gungahlin community can provide their views about what they want in their new town park. Over the coming months I will be talking with people from the Gungahlin community about what they want from the park, whom they go to the park with, how they will get there, what activities they want to be able to do in the space and much more.
In an effort to reach out and engage with as many people in the Gungahlin community as possible, I will be holding street stalls, knocking on doors of those who live near the proposed park and visiting community forums such as the Gungahlin Community Council. I will be collecting feedback from the people of Gungahlin to provide to the minister for suburban development. I am confident that an engaged and thorough community consultation process will give Gungahlin a quality public space that best reflects their ideas.
One thing Gungahlin residents have already made clear to me is their want of more green spaces within the town centre. Our natural environment is always a point of pride with Canberrans. I have heard time and again that, while understanding the needs for development, Canberrans fear the environmental impacts and the loss of green space. It is important that Gungahlin does not lose its green space or have its environment impaired in the process of development. I am pleased to say a commitment has already been given to develop this linear park in a way that incorporates climate adaptive features, and I am pleased that environmentalism is being given the priority it deserves in discussions about this park.
The climate adaptation focus for the park also gives us the opportunity to set new environmental standards for future development. And it is my hope that through
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