Edition 126 March 2013 Designed by JM Publishing About the GCC & Who can attend. Gungahlin Smoke Signals More members needed for the Committee Planning & Development update Environmental Issues NBN Update Connecting Your New Services Around the Town Centre Next meeting: Wednesday 08 May 7.30pm - Gungahlin Library Guest speaker: Minister Shane Rattenbury MLA About the GCC & Who can attend The Gungahlin Community Council is an organisation operated by volunteers (elected by the community) to provide a conduit between the residents & businesses in Gungahlin & the ACT Government. Its activities are supported by a small annual grant from the ACT Government. The objective of the Council: To preserve and provide a deterrent against party politics improve the social, cultural, economic and impeding or overriding community wishes. environmental wellbeing of Gungahlin and the Gungahlin Community. Membership of the Council is open to any person at least 16 years of age and one of: To achieve this objective the Council (a) lives in the Gungahlin district; undertakes to: (b) owns property in the Gungahlin district; provide a local forum in a non-political environment for Gungahlin residents & (c) works in the Gungahlin district; businesses to express their aspirations, (d) conducts a business in the Gungahlin concerns and suggestions; district; or provide a strong local voice; (e) has been duly appointed to represent a address matters of local concern; social organisation or interest group servicing the Gungahlin district. ensure that legislators and officials are informed of community needs and So if you fit into any of the above categories expectations; you can participate in GCC activities including foster a community identity; attending monthly meetings, joining Facebook, going on the email list for Gunsmoke communicate issues locally and regionally; (newsletter) updates & participating in surveys initiate, support or undertake any that we may conduct from time to time. appropriate action advantageous for the community; If you are keen you can advise your interest in joining the Committee. continue to represent for all facilities and services expected by the community; seek to maintain and improve the quality of life in Gungahlin; and President GunSmoke is also published online, limited printed Ewan Brown - [email protected] copies available through key shopping centres Vice President To subscribe to the online edition, go to: gcc.asn.au Peter Elford 0401 890 387 [email protected] To advertise your business or organisation in GunSmoke, Secretary please visit our website. Wayne Warton - [email protected] Disclaimer: Treasurer GunSmoke is produced to allow residents to keep in Mathew Nardi - [email protected] touch with their local community. Web Administrator Dave Bockett 0405 328 764 It enables people to express views on a range of webadmin @gcc.asn.au topics that do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editor, or members of the Gungahlin Community Public Officer Council Inc. Nada Pavlak - [email protected] GCC Committee info @gcc.asn.au - PO Box 260, Gungahlin ACT 2912 Kevin Cox, Michael Norfor Designed by JM Publishing 2 I Gungahlin Community Council - Newsletter Edition 126 April 2013 Gungahlin Smoke Signals From the President here is a lot of activity in Gungahlin of the 1st Choice Liquor sign on Hinder at present, including new buildings Street nor has there been any solution T at different stages of development provided for the ongoing problems around the Town Centre, a new school experienced at the Hinder/Hibberson under construction, extensions to suburban Streets intersection. Parking issues along developments, roadworks for the aged Anthony Rolfe Avenue have not been persons project at Gold Creek Homestead raised lately but the problems have not & the ongoing developments along been resolved. Flemington Road. Many more projects are due to commence or be announced There was a strong body of concern/ in the next few months, including the new objection to the proposed Bunnings Government office block, progress on development on the block opposite the the siting of the much needed cinema, a Gungahlin College. The sentiment was site for a new club (above Hinder Street), not against Bunnings (as many would extensions to the Raiders Club, the welcome their presence in the region) but Bunnings store & the fenced-off Geocon most questioned why it had to be located site at the top of the Town Centre. so close to the Town Centre. We have yet to be advised of the The environmental developments will developments on the Woolworth’s carpark result in a substantial reduction in the (with whispers of under-road connections projected population of Gungahlin (expect between the two sides of Hibberson Street), a total of about 90,000) if translated into the Park’n’Ride facility on the block behind the expected loss of dwelling sites. The Big W and the upgrading of the pedestrian GCC is advocating greater densification precinct along Hibberson Street through the in & around the Town Centre to contribute Town Centre. Some news may be released towards the critical mass of population on the state of play with the mosque as necessary to justify the full range of well. services & amenities we need in the district. It makes sense to go higher There are still some outstanding issues (perhaps up to 10 stories) to consolidate from the last column. No response has the case for more employment hubs & been received on the issue of the size enhanced public transport facilities. Contribute to Your Community by joining the GCC Committee With the continued progress in developments in Gungahlin we are experiencing increasing busy periods in the community council. We are urgently seeking more volunteers to help to contribute to the continued effectiveness of the local community council. Gungahlin Community Council - Newsletter Edition 126 April 2013 I 3 We have an immediate need for non- to steer Gunsmoke readers to the online working or retired people to join our version over time (particularly when we get NBN connections) so we can produce more Executive Committee. regular electronic versions & reduce manual We need people with the capacity to contribute distribution costs. & to help share the workload with some involvement in policy. With a strong focus on communications we will be seeking to keep We would like to see more input the community advised on what is happening from residents of newer suburbs! (or not happening) around the district. Many of our issues focus on the Town Centre. It would be good to see more residents of A well-informed community is likely to be more each suburb feeding in issues affecting their content with developments if they know what suburb. That would give us far greater & is going on. more even coverage of the issues facing the broader community. We would like to focus The Gunsmoke magazine production is now in more on specific topics/functions such as electronic format, with a very small hard copy schools, amenities & sporting facilities. print run. We plan to produce six editions in 2013 before evaluating the success of this If you are interested in contributing to decision. With no advertising local distribution developments in the Gungahlin district please of printed copies puts a significant drain on contact Ewan Brown (President) 0418 486 471 GCC funds. or [email protected] or Peter Elford (Vice President) [email protected] Articles & local content to suit the needs of Gungahlin residents are welcome. GCC will continue to encourage greater use of Facebook as a means of communication Construction is planned to commence in late 2013 with completion expected in early 2015. Planning and Work is underway or planned for extensions of Horse Park Drive from Amaroo School to Mirrabei Drive & from Mirrabei Drive to Development Burramurra Ave. The EIS for Moncrief is due to close in August/ September thus opening the way for about update 2000 dwellings, a Government school & a small group centre. he Development Application (DA) is about to be lodged in early May for Jacka – The LDA has completed the 1st stage the new ACT Government office block. for about 300 dwellings across from Amaroo TThe site is bounded by Efkarpidis Street, School. All blocks have been sold. Gungahlin Place, The Valley Ave & Hinder Street. The entry, featuring a café, retail & Bonner – nearly all the blocks available have public space, will be from the corner opposite been sold. Some residual landscaping needs Gungahlin Place with car parking towards the to be completed. Hinder Street end & some along The Valley Ave. The building will be 4 stories tall & will Amaroo Group Centre – the EOI has closed incorporate a child care centre & an ACT so some provisional plans should be expected Government Shopfront. soon. 4 I Gungahlin Community Council - Newsletter Edition 126 April 2013 In the Town Centre the extension of O’Brien Franklin will have a new public sports space Place has been completed. The Leisure similar to the site in Crace, to be used as a Centre is on schedule with expected community park. completion in April 2014. Two organisations have responded to RFPs to manage the A DA has been lodged for the Harrison centre. The Oval parking is due for completion Shopping Centre (off Nullarbor Ave). It will in May 2013 followed by the grandstand (with include a supermarket (1500m² max) & 550 covered seats) in January 2014. speciality shops. The new environmental proposals (see Landscaping is complete in Harrison IV. next item) have resulted in the ‘neck’ of The cinema is getting closer with EOI closed & Throsby being retained as reserve. Work now RFTs going out this month with a close off will commence on the substantial playing end June. fields with remaining plans for residential development to the South West. Entry to this A DA by Geocon has been approved for a smaller suburban area will be opposite the childcare centre.