Page 544 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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a significant contribution to the livability and prosperity of an area. When a community is socially connected and supported with good access to community and recreational opportunities, great places are created where people want to live and have a strong sense of belonging. This also provides mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits.
The ACT government knows that planning for community facilities and services enables essential social supports to help people and communities to thrive and grow. They can strengthen local and community identity and create spaces for people to meet, learn, connect and participate in social and recreational activities.
There has been considerable work done to ensure that Gungahlin residents have access to community facilities. This can be seen in the Gungahlin precinct map and code, where there is a mandatory requirement for a minimum of six hectares of community facility zoned land to be provided within Gungahlin town centre. There have been a number of specifically nominated locations within the town centre that have been identified for community facilities for individuals, families and the community over the short, medium and long term.
Community facilities that are already provided in Gungahlin include childcare centres, indoor recreation centres, emergency services, health, a library, education, local community halls and religious facilities. There is also a child and family centre, community health centre and walk-in clinic, and the current Gungahlin community centre run by Communities@Work.
Ms Orr’s motion is focused on the future of the Gungahlin community in terms of their community facility needs. The current diverse facilities occupy about three hectares of community facility zoned land in Gungahlin. The other three hectares are on track to being met as Gungahlin continues to grow and change. The ACT government will closely monitor the situation so that the range of future community facilities align with varying needs and are in locations that are accessible. It is worth noting that any new community facilities will be subject to further detailed needs assessment, land release and funding as required. Under the Territory Plan, additional community facility uses may include a community activity centre, community theatre, cultural facility, retirement village and residential care facility.
While we continue to review the future planning needs for Gungahlin town centre, it is important to note the work that the ACT government has done to refresh its wider vision for the future of the whole of Canberra. The ACT planning strategy sets the broader vision for Canberra as a compact and efficient city. It builds on the key strategic directions set in the 2012 planning strategy of focusing urban intensification in town centres, around group centres and along major public transport routes.
The ACT planning strategy, which was released in December, identifies urban intensification areas across Canberra based on their proximity to transport and services such as light rail stops and town centres. It also identifies where further development and redevelopment are directed and is aligned with supporting infrastructure while providing the opportunity for renewal and investment in targeted locations.
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