NCA Proposition

Canberra is recognised as one of ’s great achievements. A beautiful of identifiably Australian character, in which the National Capital’s roles and functions operate efficiently and with proper regard to their place and importance in a modern federal democracy. It is a city which symbolises Australian life and achievement, and is the actual as well as the symbolic home of the key elements of our Federal democracy and other aspects of national life. The character and setting of are unique. Many elements of Canberra’s design are of great practical import. This includes those which have created fitting spaces, approaches and backdrops for the institutions, symbols and ceremonies of our Federal democracy, and those which create the setting for the National Capital

The vision of the plan and the quality of the landscape and central urban spaces are attributes unique to the National Capital. The national public places at the centre of the capital provide the setting for the and national institutions. Such places are also the setting for the ceremonial and community events that reflect our nation’s history, spirit and aspirations. The national areas of the capital should be meaningful, accessible and enjoyable.

The Central National Area was created as a keystone to Australia’s national identity. This significant landscape represents the nation’s to our national treasures and achievements. The infrastructure that supports it and the people who use it ensures that this public realm remains common ground for all .

As one of our most important cultural landscapes, upkeep of the Central National Area needs to embody national standards of safety and design through strategies that are place-making and purposeful. Sufficient funding towards the planning and management of its structures – particularly major infrastructure - is critical for keeping the history and use of its public realm relevant both now and for future generations. Without this investment, we weaken an important part of our national Australian heritage, and risk losing the crucial democratic tool of public space through its neglect.

Introduction

The National Capital belongs to all Australians. Embedded in the design of its significant avenues, ceremonial and sweeping vistas is the narrative of Australia’s evolving story. The ambitions of a fledgling federation and ideals of democracy are expressed through its landscape, a national stage on which celebrations, commemorations and protests are enacted. Within the National Triangle, people are connected to some of the nation’s most important cultural, political and judicial institutions and symbols.

As custodians of this shared space, the National Capital Authority (NCA) is committed to strategies that strengthen and protect this national landscape in ways that embrace Australia’s heritage, values and aspirations. To facilitate how people across the nation can identify, experience and access the National Capital, the NCA focuses on initiatives that deepen understanding and appreciation around the capital’s function and role in Australia’s nationhood. These ideas are explored further in response to the Terms of Reference as set out by the Inquiry into Canberra’s national institutions, as set out below.

Term 1: Creating a strong brand and online presence

Response: The National Capital is a reflection of who we are as a nation and our national values.

Canberra, as a physical manifestation of the federation, is worthy of national celebration. The NCA’s responsibilities extend to fostering an awareness of Canberra as the National Capital in the hearts of all Australians. As our country’s symbolic centre, the National Triangle must be a place with which citizens can engage and are proud of. It must be a place worthy of the nation.

To achieve this, the NCA continues to invest in services and attractions that foster local and national awareness around the significance and role of Canberra as the National Capital. Efforts have focused on strengthening this profile through the redevelopment of the National Capital Exhibition, touring exhibitions and advancement of the NCA’s online communication strategies.

Renewal of the National Capital Exhibition

The National Capital Exhibition (NCE) tells the story of creation of Canberra as our National Capital, which is in turn the story of the formation of Australian nationhood, and the creation of the city within which our democratic institution would be permanently located. This is a unique role, with no other institution telling this story.

The NCE is currently undergoing the process of renewal to improve visitor experience, set to be launched in September of 2018. The process involved extensive research and assessment reviewing the market context of the NCE. Examples of good practice relevant to its new fitout were identified and the NCE’s role and purpose reviewed within the tourism context of Canberra’s cultural institutions. Its redevelopment will see a modern and engaging exhibition which caters both for school students and the general public.

Traditionally, the NCE has been an important resource and starting point for visitors to Canberra, as it provides a conceptual, historical and physical orientation to the and its institutions. It is uniquely placed to tell the story around Canberra’s development, its symbolism of Australian identity and presence on the world stage. The updated interpretive strategy will deliver this story through a focus on the following narratives:  Orientation: Who and what was in this region before the modern capital. This draws heavily on Indigenous history of the area.  Foundations of the Capital: Canberra is important because it was born from the process of federation and continues to reflect national ideals  Ideals and dreams / symbols: The Griffins’ design for Canberra was driven by ideas and aspirations for the new nation. Though the city has changed with the needs of the nation, their design created a world-class city, based on the best of international thinking and placed the natural landscape at the core of their design  Developing Canberra: As the national capital, where key nation-making decisions, commemoration, protest and international relations happen.  The future of the Capital: Canberra is not a museum piece but a living, working and evolving capital. As the custodian of Canberra, the NCA aims to ensure that it continues to be a symbol of Australian national life.

Each narrative will be delivered following best practice for museums on use of language, tone, word count and curatorial content.

Website redevelopment The NCA’s online presence has been advanced through the launch of a more user-friendly website, as well as targeted communications through advertising and social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

In July 2017, the NCA launched its new GovCMS Drupal website, www.nca.gov.au. The government endorsed platform was created for government by government and is driven by agency and end-user needs, allowing departments to share new features created to support their site. This in the long-term creates cost-efficiencies, reducing developer costs associated with creating tailored functionality. The redeveloped site incorporated responsive web design (RWD) principles, improved compliancy with WCAG 2.0 Level AA/AAA standards and is supported by a user-friendly Content Management System. Taking an agile approach to the project, the website is being developed via a staged program of works building on the improvements from the initial site.

In December 2017, to the NCA commenced Stage 2 works which have now been implemented. These included:  Redevelopment of the front end framework  Redesign of the homepage and lading pages  Optimising the site to be mobile and tablet responsive  Improvements towards a WCAG 2.0 AAA standard

Future works will include improvements to the information architecture and navigation as well as taking advantage of additional capabilities rolled-out as part of the platform’s updates such as event booking functionalities.

Term 2: Experimenting with new forms of public engagement and audience participation

Response: The landscape of the National Capital serves as a repository for national treasures and cultural achievement. Its design, management and upkeep facilitates people’s connection with and understanding of these significant resources.

Walter Burley Griffin’s design of the National Capital manifested ideals of democracy into the physical form and layout of the capital. It is this ‘Democratic Architecture’ which defines the hierarchy of land areas within the National Triangle, its grand avenues terminating at the nation’s symbolic centre of Parliament House.

As Canberra’s landscape has matured over the last century, people across the nation have relied on this infrastructure to make ideas heard and actions visible. Its recreational spaces have connected people with landscape, government and culture.

This past February, Australians came together near Parliament House on Federation Mall to acknowledge the ten year anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generation. During the Enlighten Festival in March, cultural institutions were illuminated within the iconic landscape of the National Triangle, a celebration of Canberra’s artistic and cultural heart. In April, many thousands of Australians gathered on Anzac Parade to pay their respects at the dawn service on .

These are but a few examples which demonstrate the success of Griffin’s great social experiment. The democratic ideals which structure our capital’s landscape also make it a livable, functional city for its people. But as the systems which support these landscapes change and grow – along with the demand for a more sustainable and inclusive public realm - the NCA needs to ensure that the vision and design of our capital evolves with it. This is addressed at all levels of the NCA’s responsibility, as set out below.

E-commerce A core function of the NCA involves reviewing applications for works approvals from institutions within Designated Areas of the National Estate. It is a process which protects the design integrity of the National Capital, as well as provides the agency with an income stream for maintaining assets. As such, it’s important that the interface between the works approval applicants and the NCA is streamlined in a way that promotes an efficient exchange of communication and resources. The user-friendly platform provided through the NCA’s recent Works Approval electronic lodgement portal (WAeL), launched in September 2016, facilitate better coordination and communication for those who need to undertake works within areas of the National Estate. The e-lodgement process has kept systems around the management of works applications relevant at a time of digital transformation in the workplace.

Infrastructure upgrades As the National Estate ages, issues of user safety are paramount. Due to a restricted budget, it is what elevates the priority and delivery of specific projects within the National Capital each year. Each project is approached as an opportunity to embed high quality design and place-making into the broader purpose of improving pedestrian experience and access. A key example of this is the NCA’s design of Bowen Place Crossing, a project which has been presented with eight prestigious design awards, most recently the 2017 International Federation of Landscape Architect’s Excellence for Infrastructure Award.

Bowen Place Crossing A product of 1960s planning, Bowen Place formed part of the popular pedestrian and cyclist route around Burley Griffin’s central basin, as well as hosting a busy commuter peak hour road. The updated Bowen Place Crossing (completed in late 2015) now allows motorists, pedestrians and cyclists simultaneous safe passage through the area at all times. The design for the crossing includes a 300 metre long path which passes under Bowen Drive, connecting the Kings Avenue path network directly to the foreshore path network. Sculptural retaining walls, bridges and complementary landscape have been designed to enhance the experience for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists moving through the area. The design of the underpass challenges stereotypes around infrastructure design – particularly underpasses - by providing users with a broader landscape experience.

National memorials The National Boer War Memorial and Australian Peacekeeping Memorial are the latest national memorials to be added to Anzac Parade, Australia’s premier commemorative way. The NCA has guided these and other national memorials to successful completion, as part of expanding on the narrative of Australia’s rich cultural landscape. National commemoration is an ever-evolving, complex and highly sensitive story which adds much to the symbolic and ceremonial role of the national capital, in the eyes of the nation. The NCA plays a key role in the maintenance of the national memorials under its care, ensuring that ongoing events and ceremonies can be conducted in dignified and respectful settings. The NCA also has a role in annually updating ‘living’ memorials such as the National Police Memorial and the National Emergency Services Memorial to honour those who have fallen in service to the nation.

Strategic review and future planning The NCA has provided strong leadership in its strategic planning and development of the National Estate. Its public spaces are consistently reviewed and updated to make them more safe, accessible and attractive to community use while respecting how the National Capital was originally envisioned. The release of the Kings and Commonwealth Avenues Draft Design Strategy in May 2017 demonstrates how some of these priorities are being explored within the National Triangle.

Kings and Commonwealth Avenues Draft Design Strategy Kings and Commonwealth Avenues are Canberra’s most important avenues, comprising a key structural element in Griffin’s formal plan for Canberra as well as performing an important metropolitan network role. The avenues embody the planning heritage that identifies and symbolizes the National Capital. However, their evolution over the years reflects a fragmented landscape of different eras and with aging assets that are in need of renewal.

The Draft Design Strategy presents a future long-term vision for Kings and Commonwealth Avenues which seeks to restore the character of these avenues into the memorable and functional boulevards which Griffin intended them to be.

The proposed design strategy introduces a planning and design framework to influence the integrity and presence of the avenues into the next century. Key principles guiding these strategies include the identification of high quality elements which thread through and enforce the broader avenue character; the prioritizing of pedestrian amenity through the re-structuring of the road verge and intersection treatments; and the re-thinking of the kerbline geometry in ways that keep the avenues flexible to accommodate more sustainable transport forms into the future.

The ideas proposed in the Place Renewal Plan seek to boldly re-define systems of circulation, accessibility and landscape structure as a way to not only improve the place-making qualities of the avenues, but to also identify how we envision and activate the Parliamentary Triangle which sits adjacent, and between, the avenues.

Collaboration with other institutions Developing strong working partnerships with other institutions that have a shared stake in the success of the National Capital continues to be a key focus for the NCA. Collaborative planning and activation of the public realm within the National Capital provides an important strategic basis for future public and private investment by both the Commonwealth and ACT Governments. A key example of this is demonstrated through the creation of a draft urban design framework for the Acton Peninsula Precinct, released in May 2017.

Draft Acton Peninsula Design Strategy The Acton Peninsula is a physically and visually prominent location that is the setting for some of the most important cultural institutions in Canberra. These buildings and the activities they support are significant at both a local and national level, attract substantial visitor and local patronage, and help define the important contemporary appeal of the National Capital. Yet despite this central and important context, the public spaces and environs of the Peninsula are not of a standard commensurate with their significance.

The Draft Acton Peninsula Design Strategy establishes clear urban design principles for shaping future growth and development along the peninsula. At the NCA’s instigation, the framework is the outcome of close collaboration between the ‘Peninsula Partners’, which included the ACT Government, the Australian National University, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the National Museum of Australia. The partners worked collectively to share ideas on how to improve the quality of the public spaces around the peninsula and its adjacent areas through an urban design framework.

The ideas put forward in the draft strategy is the product of over twelve months of workshops, discussions and exchanges between the Peninsula Partners. The outcome of this collaboration is an innovative and ambitious vision for the Acton Peninsula as a world class cultural precinct that celebrates Australia’s national identity and respects Canberra’s local heritage.

Term 3: Conducting outreach outside of Canberra

Response: Outreach programs are critical in promoting the story and role of the National Capital to the broader public. An expanded program would improve the understanding by Australians around the importance of their democratic institutions.

As the National Capital, it’s important that Canberra is accessible to people across all of Australia. Part of the NCA’s mission is to find ways of communicating the story around its historical, political and symbolic role to those living beyond Canberra’s borders. As the location for Australia’s national seat of government, it also serves as Australia’s doorstep to the broader international community. The NCA takes these roles seriously, and works within its restricted budget to find ways of promoting outreach to the local and global community.

Brick by Brick Travelling Exhibition Brick by Brick is a continuing exhibition delivered by the NCA for the past seven years to raise awareness of the National Capital in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia. In 2016-17, the exhibition travelled to eight venues in and and attracted over 21, 000 visitors. Designed to excite and inform school age children about the buildings in the National Capital through interactive play, the exhibition allows visitors to use LEGO blocks to replicate major buildings within Canberra. Instructions and over 30,000 LEGO pieces are provided to create eleven major buildings from the National Capital, as well as fact sheets including facts and figures about Canberra’s major cultural institutions. The aim is to increase Australians’ awareness of the unique characteristics of the National Capital.

The Capitals Alliance The Capitals Alliance was formed in 2001 to provide a global forum for senior planners and urban designers in capital across the world. It includes the planned cities of Canberra, Ottawa, Washington DC and Brasilia. Through the alliance, planners and public policy officials are able to exchange ideas and share knowledge with international colleagues on the unique challenges facing national capitals. The NCA’s participation provides access to international insights and experience that will build capacity within the NCA and its framework of programs.

Embassy and Foreign Missions Planning Canberra is Australia’s gateway to the international community and the appropriate place for significant international events and gatherings. For example, within the National Triangle, foreign missions are encouraged to hold flag-raising ceremonies to celebrate their national day or date of significance at the International Flag Display at Commonwealth Place.

The decision to designate specific areas for Diplomatic purposes in Canberra was made in 1936 with the appointment of the first British High Commissioner to Australia. Today, Canberra is home to over 100 diplomatic missions and international organisations. Many countries have diplomatic representation in Canberra to facilitate relationships between their governments and the .

A JSCNET inquiry (An Estate for the Future) held in early 2013 found that the practice of establishing a diplomatic precinct, managed by a single Commonwealth agency (the NCA) has proven to be an effective method through which Australia has met its international obligations. As such, the NCA is responsible for the strategic planning for the selection and provision of National Land for lease, the sub- division and servicing of diplomatic sites, issuing works approval for development applications and the management of unleased diplomatic sites on National Land.

Term 4: Cultivating private sector support and Term 5: Developing other income streams

Response: Encouraging participation in national spaces – whether for recreation, commemoration or protest – provides the public with a sense of ownership of their National Capital. Investing support in its design and use helps create a city with a national identity of which all Australians can be proud.

As an agency tasked to oversee Griffin’s democratic legacy, the NCA needs to be careful that the planning and management of the National Estate remains accessible to all Australians. While private sector support is welcomed as an opportunity to generate further activation and use of these significant landscapes, it’s important its delivery doesn’t restrict the ability of people to freely gather, recreate and reflect within the broader public realm of the National Capital Estate. It is also important that funds generated through private sector use of the National Estate be re-invested back into its development and maintenance. Otherwise, it will be difficult to ensure quality upkeep of NCA lands if private sector use were to increase without this additional funding. As there are often competing priorities for use of particular areas within the estate, a curatorial framework is necessary for prioritizing the selection, management and delivery of events.

The NCA remains committed to ensuring Commonwealth assets support new investment in Canberra. Events and activities on NCA-managed land are some of the many ways to attract people, enliven the public realm and further develop and enhance the Central National Area as the heart of the National Capital. Partnerships with the private sector assist in this activation through the incorporation of event infrastructure that often remains within the estate for permanent use.

Events Venue and Infrastructure Feasibility Study The agency has recently commissioned a specialist team to deliver an ‘Events Venue and Infrastructure Feasibility Study’ to provide strategic advice to guide future events on NCA managed land. In particular, the work will explore the opportunities and constraints to provide greater opportunities for engagement in the national capital, to enliven areas managed by the NCA and support appropriate revenue generating events and activities. Recommendations from the report will inform the direction, format and scale of infrastructure investment required to improve accessibility and public programs on National Land. The project is important for a better understanding around the types of infrastructure required to improve activity and promote events that are consistent with the quality, character and symbolic purposes of the spaces managed by the NCA. This work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Term 6: Ensuring the appropriateness of governance structures

Response: The review of existing NCA structures strengthens the governance, financial stewardship and strategic direction towards development and upkeep of the National Capital.

The National Capital Authority is trustee and manager of areas in Canberra and the ACT that are designated as National Land for the special purpose of Canberra as Australia’s National Capital. The NCA works closely and collaboratively with the ACT Government in shaping the future of Canberra through the National Capital Plan and related planning and development work. The NCA also manages much of the National Estate – such as Lake Burley Griffin, the Parliamentary Triangle and Anzac Parade – and educates and informs the community about Canberra’s unique characteristics and special role as the National Capital.

The management and operation of the National Capital Exhibition, the National and Blundells Cottage form an important part of the NCA’s role.

The NCA manages around $900m of built and natural assets on behalf of the Commonwealth and employs some 57 staff (full-time equivalent).

Change in governance arrangements The Australian Capital (Planning and Land Management) Amendment Bill 2017 (currently before the House), will make the Authority of the National Capital Authority – a five member board – the ‘accountable authority’ of the NCA, for the purposes of the Performance, Governance and Accountability Act 2013 (the PGPA Act). This change is scheduled to occur from 1 July 2018.

Currently the NCA’s Chief Executive is the accountable authority (the Chief Executive is, and will remain, an ex officio member of the Authority) and will remain the head of the agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999.

The change follows a review on the NCA’s role, funding arrangements and governance conducted in 2016-17. The new governance arrangements with respect to the role and responsibilities of the Authority was a specific recommendation of the review to ensure the NCA is able to better utilise the skills and capabilities of Authority members to strengthen governance and enhance the financial stewardship and strategic direction of the NCA.

The National Capital Authority will remain a non-corporate Commonwealth entity in the Commonwealth governance and financial framework.