Recent News
330 new Residential Units for Akuna Street
Developers of a new $60.38 million, 18-storey apartment project say it will bring 500 new residents into Civic, reinvigorating a section of Canberra's central business district. Across the road from the Canberra Centre shopping mall and Glebe Park, the 330-unit Akuna Street Residence will be close to eight major office blocks ...
Northbourne Avenue, London Circuit to undergo $7.6m upgrade
Two of the City’s busiest roads, Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit, will undergo significant safety improvements and maintenance over the next three months, Chief Minister and Minister for Transport, Jon Stanhope, said today.
Roadworks on London Circuit start this week while the first stage of the Northbourne Avenue works commence next week. The entire works will be completed by mid-June 2010.
The works include replacing deteriorated sections of road, improvements to the existing on-road cycle paths and footpaths and the provision of new on-road cycle paths on sections of London Circuit.
Mr Stanhope said the $7.6 million works were being funded through the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.
“This work, which will involve the resurfacing of almost 43,000 square metres of roadway over the next three months, represents a major investment in the safety and proactive maintenance of the ACT’s road network,” Mr Stanhope said.
Mr Stanhope said nearby residents and businesses would be well informed about roadworks in their area, with prominent signs and letterboxed notices about expected delays and closures.
“The ACT Government is fast-tracking the roadworks by scheduling overnight and weekend work. Lane closures will be kept to off-peak times to minimise the impact on road users.
“I urge road users to be patient while the work takes place and allow for extra commuting time when travelling through the affected areas.”
Local firm Cord Civil Pty Ltd was awarded the contract for the Northbourne Avenue works and Downer EDI Works was awarded the London Circuit contract.
The Northbourne Avenue upgrades will be conducted in three stages:
- Stage 1: Northbourne Avenue northbound between Alinga Street and Rudd Street and from north of Barry Drive to Gould Street;
- Stage 2: Northbourne Avenue southbound between Girrahween Street and Cooyong Street; and
- Stage 3: Northbourne Avenue northbound between Gould Street and Condamine Street.
To find out more visit: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/
Chief Minister invites input into City Action Plan
Chief Minister Launches Draft Action Plan in City
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope today released the draft Greater Canberra City Area Co-ordinated Action Plan 2010-2016 saying it afforded a unique opportunity for teamwork and goal-sharing between the ACT Government, corporate players and Canberrans.
He said the 60-page Plan was prepared to help advance the Canberra Plan goal for Canberra City to be a dynamic heart of the region, and asks Canberrans to consider key issues including modes of transport, parking facilities, cycle and pedestrian networks, street frontages and public safety.
If offers possible strategies for dealing with a doubling in the number of City residents from 5200 to 10,400 by 2016, along with a 25% increase in workers during the same period.
The draft plan, prepared by the ACT Department of Land and Property Services, also questions what transport links, services and parking spaces the City will need.
Mr Stanhope said: “This draft Action Plan adopts nine specific targets which focus on enhancing Canberra City- from Haig Park to Lake Burley Griffin – as a great place for people to live and thrive”.
He said one of the keys to “building a stronger City heart” was to marry future designs and plans with ongoing population growth anticipated over the next seven years.
“By 2016 some 2km of new and upgraded shared use path is likely to be built to improve cycle and pedestrian access throughout areas east of Northbourne Avenue, and to improve connections between City East and City West.”
“The Action Plan’s targets are integrated, and together they work to maintain the City’s existing high level of accessibility and functionality, help improve Canberra’s environmental footprint, enhance City’s vitality and urban lifestyle, and optimise utilisation of existing transport and other infrastructure”.
Mr Stanhope said the draft Action Plan was not a fait accompli.
“It will contribute to broader discussions that will lead to clearer priorities and common goals”.
He said the Greater City Area, through natural growth alone over the next seven years, was set to attract around $1.5 billion in private sector investment.
“We will need to meet the demands of that growth”.
“Much of the City’s public infrastructure is almost 40 years old, and paths, lighting and design of the open spaces need to be adapted to increasing changes in the urban character”.
Mr Stanhope also said some areas formerly peripheral to the City were now integral to the city’s urban form and need to link into a unified whole.
“The Action Plan aims to contribute significantly towards that and, in time will help determine the level of public investment appropriate to the Greater Canberra City over the coming years”
The consultation period for public input into the plan ends Tuesday 16th March 2010.
Copies of the Greater Canberra City Area Coordinated Action Plan 2010-2016 are available at http://www.communityengagement.act.gov.au/
Paving the way to transform Glebe Park
Significant paving upgrades are improving the accessibility and amenity of the popular Glebe Park, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, said today.
Mr Stanhope said the ACT Government had invested $1.6 million to replace 6250 square metres of paving as part of the $25 million Local Initiatives Package,which was developed by the Government to support jobs and boost industry confidence.
The work has just commenced and will be scheduled in stages to minimise disruption to visitors and events. It will be completed in mid 2010.
“The ACT Government has commenced a program to replace the paving in Glebe Park which has deteriorated significantly over the years due to constant use,” Mr Stanhope said. “Cracked, broken and uneven paving will be replaced to improve the accessibility and amenity of the popular inner-city park.
“The work will help to retain the park’s unique character and ensure it continues to be well-used by the community.”
The new clay paving is a red-brown colour and matches the paving used around the new Glebe Park performance stage.
Mr Stanhope said the work was recommended in the Glebe Park Master Plan Report which was developed following extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders such as the ACT Heritage Unit and the Heritage Council.
Other works undertaken by the Government in Glebe Park the past 12 months include replacing the BBQ plates with energy-efficient models; more seating in the BBQ areas; landscaping; and a new path linking the City gate to the Gillard Smith Gate.
A purpose-built performance stage and a shade structure and seating walls for the playground were also completed last year with funding from the Federal Government.
The playground and BBQ areas will remain open while the work takes place.
Major upgrade West Row Park starts tomorrow
A major redesign of West Row Park, funded by city centre property owners via Canberra CBD Limited, starts tomorrow (5 January).
Canberra CBD Limited will spend more than $600,000 on the park and the ACT Government another $100,000 on adjacent works.
‘This is our most significant capital investment to date,’ said Canberra CBD Limited CEO, Linda Staite. ‘The park, at the corner of London Circuit and West Row, has suffered from the drought. We are thrilled to be refurbishing it, and to new levels of visual and practical amenity.’
Acting Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, said ‘West Row Park is a small but valued green space in the city centre. This investment partnership by the Government and Canberra CBD Limited is a great example of how the Government and property owners can work cooperatively on city centre improvements.’
Mrs Staite said the existing mature trees would be retained, but smaller scrubby bushes and a pittosporum would be replaced with more harder species.
‘There will be bike racks, more seating, improved lighting and paved paths that criss-cross the park in the directions that people currently walk through it, and a small grassed area.’
The existing sculpture Red and Blue (Inge King) will be a centrepiece of the park ‘and visually integrated with its distinctive red and blue picked up in the park paving, walls and seating. The Friday markets will return to the park when work is completed.
Smoking to be banned in outdoor food and drinking areas
ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA, said today that the Government had taken a substantial step forward in its efforts to reduce the harm caused by tobacco.
Ms Gallagher was speaking after the Assembly supported the Government’s Smoking (Prohibition in Enclosed Public Places) Amendment Bill 2009.
“This Government is committed to promoting good health and wellbeing, and protecting Canberrans from exposure to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke,” Ms Gallagher said.
“In 12 months there will be no smoking in Canberra’s restaurants, cafés and coffee shops. Pubs and clubs, however, will be able to designate an outdoor smoking area of no more than 50 per cent of their outdoor space,” she said.
Changes to City Taxi services
The trial of the under-utilised Nightlink taxi service in Civic will cease this Sunday (6 December 2009) and its funding will be redirected towards more security for Civic’s main taxi rank in Alinga Street, Chief Minister and Minister for Transport, Jon Stanhope, said today.
Mr Stanhope said the service – which offers high occupancy taxis from a dedicated rank in Civic for a fixed fare – no longer represented the best value for taxpayers’ money due to poor patronage.
He said changes to the scheme in April this year designed in consultation with the taxi industry had failed to lift patronage. For the period April to July this year, only 1500 passengers had used the service compared to 3000 passengers during the same period in 2008.
“Patronage for the Nightlink service has decreased considerably since it commenced in February 2008,” Mr Stanhope said. “Hirings for the Government-subsidised service are down 53 per cent and patronage is down 50 per cent. Fares are also down 30 per cent.
“Based on the low demand for Nightlink taxis, the service no longer represents the best value for taxpayers’ money.
“The service will cease this weekend and the funding will be redirected towards more security for the Alinga Street taxi rank over the summer period.”
Mr Stanhope said the two security guards and at least one taxi marshal employed at the Nightlink taxi rank would be moved to Alinga Street on weekends from December to March inclusive each year.
“The security guards and taxi marshal will help to address anti-social behaviour and improve the safety of the Alinga Street taxi rank,” Mr Stanhope said. “They will supplement the existing CCTV cameras in the area that are monitored by the Australian Federal Police.”
Mr Stanhope said the Canberra Taxi Industry Association and the Aerial Taxi Network had been fully briefed on the Government’s decision.
He said the Government would fund ACTION’s Nightrider service on the weekend of 11/12 December and 18/19 December and on New Year’s Eve to provide partygoers with convenient and safe transport home in addition to the standard taxi services.
Draft Interpretive Signage for the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings
The ACT Heritage Unit has received funding to provide interpretive signage for the Melbourne and Sydney Buildings, portraying many colourful stories of the past.This is a wonderful opportunity to promote the history of both buildings, and celebrate their continuing contribution to the Civic Centre.The ACT Heritage Unit has prepared draft text and images for the signs, and would like your input before finalising these with their graphic designer. Read more
West Row Park Upgrade
Canberra CBD Limited’s upgrade of West Row Park will commence in early January 2010. GHD have managed the design phase of the project and have chosen Urban Contractors, to carry out the upgrade work. Work is expected to be completed early April.
REDEX – Rapid Express Direct starts Monday 16 November
The REDEX route will travel via Mitchell, Northbourne Avenue, the City, Russell and Barton. This REDEX trial was chosen because it is consistent with one of the key routes identified within the draft Public Transport Network Plan.
The route will operate every 15 minutes between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. Read more…..
New ActewAGL headquaters
Actewagl will be moving to its new leased headquarters, on the corner of Mort & Bunda streets- in June 2010.
The building, is designed to become one of Canberra’s most environmentally complete office buildings, according to Actewagl. The main design objective was to construct a highly energy-efficient building that operates with a minimal carbon footprint. This will be achieved with a new air conditioning plant and a passive chilled beam system, which is geared towards obtaining a maximum five-star NABERS Energy Rating.
Michael Costello chief executive of ActewAGL said, “the commitment byActewAGL to the environmental objectives of NABERS Energy Rating will ensure the new headquarters and logistics facility are examples of Australian best practice in the construction and fit-out of buildings, which do less damage to our environment and recognise the contribution that greener buildings of the future make to our planet”.
The current ActewAGL headquarters at Actew House on London Circuit was purchased by the Molongolo Group last year.
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