Transport Planning and Policy Team Transport Canberra
[email protected] Dear Sir/Madam Woden Valley Community Council’s Submission to the Moving Canberra 2019-2045 - Integrated Transport Strategy (Strategy). The Woden Valley Community Council (WVCC) appreciates the opportunity to provide this submission about the Integrated Transport Strategy. We acknowledge that population growth and the environmental impacts of urban sprawl are creating the need to densify the City and Town Centres. We welcome development but want it to be done well, with the needs of the community at the forefront of planning. The Woden Town Centre is centrally located and accessible making it an ideal location for the provision of jobs, services and facilities for the growing community. While many residents will need to travel to other employment hubs, the current requirement to travel to other districts for cultural and indoor recreational activities encourages car ownership and adds to congestion on our roads. As mentioned in the Strategy, our city is not static and a land use plan is required to guide public and private sector investment as the Woden Town Centre grows. This includes planning for a community centre, indoor multi-purpose sports hall, aquatic centre and higher education to diversify Woden’s economy. Planning for an active Centre provides confidence for the private sector to invest and reduces the reliance on car trips to other districts. Public transport, including the suburban routes, should provide access to our Town Centres, Group Centres and local shops to strengthen connections between people, enabling them to share public spaces, cultural and recreational facilities to build strong and resilient communities.