Oaks Estate Master Plan
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OAKS ESTATE MASTER PLAN BACKGROUND REPORT DECEMBER 2012 Project Number 11.048 ACT GOVERNMENT OAKS ESTATE MASTERPLAN PROJECT NUMBER: 11.048 ISSUE DATE DESCRIPTION AUTHOR A 04/12/12 Final Draft AN Report prepared by: THE DESIGN PARTNERSHIP PO Box 6325 West Gosford NSW 2250 T 02 4324 8554 F 02 4322 6379 E [email protected] W www.thedesignpartnership.com.au Disclaimer I This report has been prepared based on the information supplied by the Client and investigations undertaken by The Design Partnership and other consultants. Recommendations are based on professional judgement and whilst every effort has been taken to provide accurate advice, the Client should be aware that Council, Government Agencies and other regulatory bodies may not concur with the recommendations within this report. The preparation of this report does not guarantee approval of any application. Copyright I This document and the information contained therein is solely for the use of the authorised recipient. This document may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any purposes other than that for which it was supplied by The Design Partnership. The Design Partnership makes no repre- sentation, undertakes no duty and accepts no responsibility to any third party who may use or rely on this document for the information contained therein. THE OAKS ESTATE MASTERPLAN - BACKGROUND REPORT Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Snapshot of Oaks Estate .........................................................................................................2 2.0 History of Oaks Estate ........................................................................................................4 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................4 2.2 Aboriginal Heritage ..................................................................................................................4 2.3 Early Settlement ......................................................................................................................4 2.4 Oaks Estate Becomes Part of the Territory ...............................................................................4 2.5 Building Canberra ....................................................................................................................4 2.6 Limited Services .....................................................................................................................5 3.0 Urban Morphology of Oaks Estate ......................................................................................7 3.1 Introduction: Evolution of Oaks Estate’s Urban Footprint ...........................................................7 3.2 The Urban Framework .............................................................................................................7 3.3 Within the Frame – a Planned or Unplanned Settlement? ..........................................................8 3.4 Relationship Between the Frame and That Within the Frame: Formal Heart – Informal Edges .....8 3.5 Living in the Marches – Cross Border Conflicts and Opportunities ............................................8 3.6 Enclave – Exclave Characteristics ............................................................................................9 3.7 Cross Border Communities ...................................................................................................10 4.0 Urban Framework of Oaks Estate .....................................................................................12 4.1 Road Hierarchy .....................................................................................................................12 4.2 Zoning ..................................................................................................................................14 4.3 Open Space ..........................................................................................................................17 4.4 Vacant Blocks .......................................................................................................................19 4.5 Public Transport ....................................................................................................................20 4.6 Cornerstones of Oaks Estate .................................................................................................21 4.7 Landmarks/Focal Points and Vistas .......................................................................................22 4.8 Heritage ................................................................................................................................23 4.9 Special Places ......................................................................................................................25 4.10 Built Form and Landscape Character .....................................................................................27 4.11 Built Form and the Cultural Landscape ...................................................................................28 4.12 Building Heights ....................................................................................................................30 4.13 Servicing ..............................................................................................................................31 5.0 A Brief Social Profile of Oaks Estate .................................................................................32 5.1 Social Profile .........................................................................................................................33 5.2 Social Infrastructure ..............................................................................................................35 6.0 A Brief Economic Profile of Oaks Estate ...........................................................................36 6.1 Economic Profile ...................................................................................................................37 7.0 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................39 7.1 Outline of Constraints, Threats and Weaknesses.....................................................................40 7.2 Outline of Strengths and Opportunities ...........................................................................41 THE OAKS ESTATE MASTERPLAN - BACKGROUND REPORT 1.0 INTRODUCTION THE OAKS ESTATE MASTERPLAN - BACKGROUND REPORT iv 1.0 Introduction Oaks Estate is a settlement in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on the New South Wales (NSW) border. Oaks Estate is located approximately 12 kms east from the centre of Canberra, adjacent to the township of Queanbeyan. The estate covers an area of approximately forty (40) hectares and is bound by the Canberra-Sydney railway to the south and the Molonglo River to the north. The land use in Oaks Estate is predominantly residential with some small scale commercial, industrial, community use and rural areas. Oaks Estate is historically significant as the centre of Queanbeyan’s industrial development during the second half of the 19th century. Oaks Estate is named after ‘The Oaks’, the original homestead which was part of ‘Duntroon’, Robert Campbell’s farming estate. This makes Oaks Estate one of only several place names in the ACT with connections to colonial times. The estate comprises approximately 90 lots. Several of the lots are clusters of three-storey social housing blocks. There have been concerns about the poor access to services that the residents experience. Many of the houses built within the estate date from a period when there were no building regulations for this estate. This has resulted in a very mixed and unusual style of architecture. A social and economic study has been undertaken. This compares Oaks Estate with the nearby Jerrabomberra Statistical area, which comprises the Queanbeyan area. Further studies have been undertaken in the Pearce area in order to establish how Oaks Estate sits with the rest of Canberra. However, it is important to note given the unique set of circumstances for Oaks Estate, and the small sample size, some of the statistical information is considered to be Statistically Not Reliable (SNR). This report briefly outlines the current level of servicing in the settlement, the history of the area, the current zoning pattern and structure of the urban framework including the relationships between open space and built form in Oaks Estate. This report is intended to be used as background information for the preparation of the master plan. This report summarises existing reports and studies into a compilation document that will be used as a reference throughout the course of the project. Where necessary, we draw the reader back to the source documents for further information. This document is a live document and is updated from time to time as we identify new information or studies. THE OAKS ESTATE MASTERPLAN - BACKGROUND REPORT 1 1.1 Snapshot of Oaks Estate Population of Oaks Estate 259 Female 36% of total population (92) Male: 64% of total population (167) Households 144 Median age of persons 39 years Under 14 years 11% of total population Working Age 80% of total population (15-64) Average household size 1.7 persons Median household income $778 weekly Public Housing Dwellings Comprises