Ms Peggy Danaee Committee Secretary JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AND EXTERNAL TERRITORIES PO Box 6021, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Email: [email protected] Dear Ms Danaee, INQUIRY INTO COMMONWEALTH AND PARLIAMENTARY APPROVALS FOR THE PROPOSED STAGE 2 OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY LIGHT RAIL PROJECT Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to the above inquiry. The submission is attached. The ACT Property sector is the second biggest industry in Canberra – behind the public and health services – employing 1 in 7 Canberrans – driving economic growth and renewal across our city. Our sector is critical to the diversity of the economy and contribute 57.5% of all government revenue which funds our schools, hospitals, municipal, community and government services. Our contribution to renewing our city at a time of transformation and growth is immense. Many of our members work on a daily basis with members and officials within the government to drive development and renewal across the city – from townhouses to mixed use developments, multi-residential sites and commercial and retail projects – to whole estates and suburbs and precincts from the local shops to the high-rise developments in our town centres. Our members include developers, financers, architects, property law specialists, retirement living operators, town planners, heritage consultants, universities, government agencies at both the Federal and Territory level and local utilities. Our advocacy priorities include: • Encouraging urban renewal that is vital to the future of Canberra’s economic and social wellbeing. • Planning and Sustainable Development polices which are outcomes focused. • Transport Orientated Development that delivers density and liveability in the major transport corridors and in our town centres. • Housing choice for all Canberrans including retirement living and affordable housing. • Taxes and charges which are fair, administered efficiently and encourage development where it is needed. • Long term infrastructure planning which will help transform our city. It is based on these key advocacy priorities that we make this submission. Summary a) The National Triangle, Parliamentary Zone is a critical part of the long-term City wide Light Rail Network and the transport network. Light Rail if well integrated into the Main Avenue framework will enhance the national significance of the Parliamentary Zone b) The published ACT Light Rail Network Master Plan (2015) is soundly based and proposes a direct, intertown City to Woden route and routes to Canberra International Airport integrated into the Main Avenue framework of the Parliamentary Zone via Capital Circle. c) The current ACT Government Preferred Option and the diversion through the Barton employment precinct is inconsistent with the ACT Light Rail Network Master Plan. This diversion would have a significant negative impact on the City to Woden route. d) Departures from the City-wide network should only be considered where there are benefits to the whole network. e) The multi-modal transport capacity of Commonwealth Avenue should be maintained and enhanced. Key messages 1. The proposal to create light rail network as part of the National Triangle and through the Parliamentary Zone is within an area of national significance. It promises to enhance this significance and help showcase Australia’s National Capital as an exemplar 21st century sustainable city. 2. The Property Council supports long term infrastructure planning that integrates land use and transport. 3. Light Rail is critical infrastructure for Canberra’s future. 4. Canberra is laid out on the framework of the Griffin Plan which was designed for light rail. 5. Canberra’s ‘Y plan’ metropolitan structure is robust and sustainable - predicated on: a. a north south light rail transit spine with priority for pedestrians and b. peripheral parkways for cars 6. The National Triangle (including City, Russell and the Parliamentary Zone) is the centre of the public transport network, providing connections to the rest of the Canberra network. Connecting light rail to this important zone south of the lake also opens up future corridors in Canberra’s south. 7. We should now plan the light rail corridor as a high quality multi-modal corridor with enhanced people movement and reduced congestion. 8. Adelaide Avenue is a nationally significant Main Avenue and approach route to Parliament House that the Commonwealth via the National Capital Authority has planning responsibility. As one of Griffin’s main avenues it should be transformed into tree lined multi-modal boulevard to unlock land opportunities for transit oriented urban renewal adjacent new transit stops in Deakin and Yarralumla as well as other locations on the Woden to City corridor such as Curtin and Yarra Glenn. 9. The National Triangle should be an integral part of this multi-modal corridor 10. Current strategic planning settings - The National Capital Plan and the ACT Government’s Light Rail Network Master Plan - propose a direct route in a separate reserve (right of way) between Woden Town Centre and the City centre. 11. The ACT Light Rail Network Master Plan is soundly based and uses Griffin’s framework of main avenues as they were intended. 12. Providing a frequent and accessible service to Barton is important but it should be done in a way that doesn’t negatively impact on the overall performance of the network. 13. Either State Circle or Capital Circle should play an important interchange role between the City to Woden route and Woden, Parliament House and Barton to Russell and the Canberra International Airport. A light rail connection from State Circle /Capital Circle to Kings Avenue should be considered as part of a longer-term link to the Airport via Russell. 14. Consideration of individual stages should be considered within the context of the longer-term network as set out in the ACT Light Rail Network Master Plan. 15. There are other options that deliver an attractive service to the Barton employment precinct while maintaining the integrity of the ACT Light Rail Network Plan Once again thank you for the opportunity to respond, and please contact me if you have any questions. Background The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories has commenced a new inquiry into Commonwealth and Parliamentary approvals for the proposed Stage 2 of the Australian Capital Territory light rail project. The terms of reference are to inquire into and report on the development of stage two of the Australian Capital Territory light rail project, with regard to: 1. the relevant parliamentary approval processes for works within the Parliamentary zone; 2. the roles of the National Capital Authority and the Australian Government, and the associated approval processes; 3. possible impacts on the Parliamentary zone and Parliamentary precincts, including any impacts on the heritage values and national importance of the Parliamentary zone and our national capital; and 4. the identification of matters that may be of concern prior to formal parliamentary or Australian Government consideration of the project; and any other relevant matter the Committee wishes to examine. Recommended approach 1. The proposal to create light rail network as part of the National Triangle and through the Parliamentary Zone is within an area of national significance. It promises to enhance this significance and help showcase Australia’s National Capital as an exemplar 21st century sustainable city. The National Triangle (including City, Russell and the Parliamentary Zone) is the centre of the public transport network, providing connections to the rest of the Canberra network. Connecting light rail to this important zone south of the lake also opens up future corridors in Canberra’s south. 2. The Property Council supports long term infrastructure planning that integrates land use and transport Public transport and sustainable transport options like light rail, are integral to the realisation of more liveable, productive and sustainable cities. Transport plans when integrated with strategic land use plans are a powerful pathway for sustainable city transformation and the delivery of vibrant, connected, inclusive, resilient and healthy urban places for people. The ACT and Commonwealth Governments are ideally placed to leverage government land and investment in public transport and the public domain to deliver design led and people focused urban renewal along with reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a more compact city with reduced car dependency and enhanced active travel options. The ACT Government should be commended for preparing a long term and City wide Light Rail Network Master Plan. This Light Rail Network Plan provides a comprehensive network plan that integrates with current planning and land use strategies. 3. Light Rail is critical infrastructure for Canberra’s future Canberra’s population is projected to increase from 415,000 to over 500,000 within the next ten years. With the highest car dependency of any Australian capital city, this population growth will result in significantly more cars and more congestion. Through traffic currently dominates the main avenues and approach routes to the National Triangle and Parliament House. Further growth in the volume of cars threatens to overwhelm the Parliamentary Triangle. The introduction of light rail is a game changer for Canberra. It reflects a shift in the world where public investment is moving from highways and sprawl to transit and cities, and the role of design is shifting from building bigger roads to making streets that support quality places. The world’s best and most liveable cities all have excellent integrated public transport networks, designed and planned in tandem with land use to create walkable, people-friendly communities with a range of transport options. Growing Canberra around a light rail spine that is integrated into high density pedestrian friendly precincts will deliver a National Capital that is more compact, sustainable and well connected, maintaining the world class standard of living experienced by Canberrans. Streets are public spaces for people as well as corridors for movement.