Woden Voice Community News and Information
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Issue #4. June 2008 Woden Voice Community News and Information Published by Woden Community Service Inc. & Woden Valley Community Council Inc. with a distribution of 12,500 Welcome to the fourth edition of Woden Voice, a quarterly newsletter produced by Woden Community Service (WCS) and Woden Valley Community Council (WVCC). Woden Voice is designed to strengthen connections in the Woden Valley community and keep residents up to date with local issues. There is a lot of change going on in the Woden Valley and we want this newsletter to reflect what is going on in our community. We want to hear from you! If there are issues you are concerned about let us know. Our contact details are below and your local member’s details are at the back. Phillip Pool leased for 99 years Woden Valley Community Council including : edge of the pool. (WVCC) is very concerned that the ACT • the impact of multi unit • breach planning guidelines. Planning Minister has agreed to lease the developments in Chifley, Lyons • reduce recreation facilities by Government owned Phillip Pool and Ice and other suburbs. removing the existing tennis courts Skating Rink to the private sector for 99 • failure of the government on the proposed building site years without community consultation. and the Planning Authority The Minister rejected the concerns saying The minister announced the pool’s lease to consult adequately over the pool site would only be overshadowed at a recent WVCC meeting (04/06/08). developments for one hour during winter when the pool David Menzel, WVCC spokesperson said • the loss of recreational facilities was closed. in the Woden Town Centre the government has effectively sold the WVCC disagrees with this view based on • concern over development of pool without informing Woden residents. evidence in the DA. the pool and ice rink site. Mr Menzel said the site had been “The Stanhope government has removed • the poor state of Yarralumla previously leased on a 20 year rental appeals to the Administrative Appeals Creek (Woden’s concrete drains) lease, which had expired some years Tribunal for developments in the town • the status of the Woden Town ago. If the Government renewed that centre so now the community can only Centre Master Plan. arrangement it was required to lease it ask the Minister to intervene.” David to the former lessee unless it intended At the meeting, Minister Barr also said Menzel said. to take back the land. WVCC and others approval had been given for a 12 storey Continued page 6 had met with the Minister some time office building on the site immediately to ago to ask him not to renew the lease for the north of the pool. the pool. WVCC had urged him to use his “call in” “To then ignore this request and sell powers and stop the project from going the government owned facility through ahead due to concerns about its negative a grant of a 99 year lease without impact particularly on the pool and to a consulting us is simply not good enough. lesser extent on Football Park. Hot topics The people of Woden deserve better.” WVCC is concerned the 12 storey Mr Menzel said “The Minister has building will: - New community bus p3 undertook to provide details on the • completely overshadow the pool - Development Update p5 sale price and conditions of lease to in winter the WVCC.” • overlook the pool area and reduce - Woden Green consultation p7 The meeting was well attended by amenity for users - New 0-5 play program p9 residents, concerned about a range of • create unacceptable wind tunnelling on the pool/rink and planning issues in Woden. They asked - Woden Eco-Challenge p12 Minister Barr questions about local surrounding areas. planning and development problems, • increase traffic congestion, noise and pollution along the northern Woden Community Service Inc. PO Box 35 Woden ACT 2606 Ph: 6282 2644 E: [email protected] W: www.wcs.org.au Deadline for submission of articles for the next issue of Woden Voice is 03/09/08 1 LETTERS TO WODEN VOICE Letters to Multi Unit development in A10 zones Woden Voice Dear editor, they purchased. They now live like their street to maintain I have been approached by in these areas, and have in its character and at the very Please send your brief several Chifley residents some instances invested a lot least not have their home letters to: seeking help in relation to of capital into their properties back onto a 13 unit double [email protected]. submitting objections to and are now having to fight to story development. Residents au or Woden Voice proposed developments in maintain their suburban way of say they are not opposed c/- Woden Community A10 zoned areas. What are life. If they had wanted to live in to urban infill and multi-title Service Inc. PO Box A10 areas you might ask? a medium to high density area units, but they are opposed 35 Woden ACT 2606. Under the revised Territory they could have bought in one, to a lack of consideration to Plan these areas allow multi rather than choosing to buy in existing residents and the large Deadline for next unit title on a single block/s. a low density area. Residents size of recent development edition Their concern is that many feel that if they complain applications in suburban areas. is Wednesday 3rd people who bought into older about the changes they are September 2008 suburbs several years ago did considered “trouble makers”, Louise Evans, not have A10 zoning when simply because they would Roper Place, Chifley. Disc Golf at Eddison Park The development of the Eddison Park game can be played by both genders, 5 The proposed Master Plan for Eddison Master Plan again draws attention to to 75 year olds with any skill level and it is Park needs to consider important social this valuable resource within the Woden an excellent lifetime fitness sport. and recreational activities, within a Valley and the range of activities available Disc Golf is a free activity to the whole central area that are health promoting, within it. community, providing people with gentle accessible for all and encourages The suggestion that the cemetery may aerobic exercise, within a beautiful setting community use of public resources. expand into the eastern side would such as Eddison Park. The benefits of I invite all interested residents of the remove a large part of the park and the Disc Golf are manyfold. It doesn’t require Woden Valley to contact me to arrange a disc golf course. club membership, extensive equipment free disc golf “come and try” session at Disc Golf has been operating in Eddison and clothing, has minimal impact on the Eddison Park to discover the benefits and environment and promotes fitness and Park for 11 years. It is similar to ball fun of this activity in this fantastic location. golf except you throw a disc (frisbee) from fun for families and friends. The sport can short or long tees towards a target. The share the park with the many other users. G. Sparksman, 6258 1194 Corporate Design & Print Solutions Kwik Kopy Phillip 2/10 Townshend Street, Phillip, ACT 2606 t 6281 7700 f 6281 0599 e [email protected] w www.phillip.kwikkopy.com.au 2 WHAT’S ON AT WODEN COMMUNITY SERVICE New Woden with funding for a bus driver due to inability to take public to transport more people, and transport coordination transport, drive or who are particularly to activities that Community provided by the ACT reliant on others for transport. increase their engagement in Bus Service Government’s Department the community and maintain of Disability Housing and “Community transport was good health and well being.” Community Services. one of the key services A low cost community bus, One bus has been allocated identified at a Woden Valley The bus service will not be for people who are socially to Woden Community Service Community Forum last year,” an alternative for people isolated and unable to use and it will run Monday to Ms Flaherty said. not wishing to use existing public transport, will be Friday between 10am - 4pm. ACTION services. “People available in the Woden Valley “Woden Community Service wishing to access the service in June this year. Chris Flaherty, Manager already provides transport to will be assessed for their of Home and Community people who are elderly, living eligibility in an over the phone The 22 seater bus is one Care Services at Woden with a disability or a mental interview,” Ms Flaherty said. of a fleet of six that is Community Service, said illness.” being provided to regional the bus would be of great People who are interested community service benefit to people in the Woden “This bus will complement in using the bus service are organisations by ACTION area who were house bound that service as it will be able asked to call 6260 5400. Woden and Woden Valley Community getting the plan together entertainment, plus volunteers Council, has received and are seeking ideas for to help put the program and Community funding through the ACT activities and entertainment, festival together as we get Festival - Government’s Festival Grants competitions and prizes. closer to the day. which will be used for a wide The festival will have a “local” It’s a Date! range of activities for all ages We will also need volunteers focus encouraging people and tastes. on the day to make sure that and businesses in the Woden It’s official - the Woden things run smoothly. Planning has begun.