Tuggeranong Community Council Newsletter Issue 15: May 2012 PM makes Calwell call Fall in Valley Crime Crime rates in the Tuggeranong Valley have fallen according to the latest statis- tics recently released by ACT Policing. The number of offences recorded in Tug- geranong for the first quarter of 2012 totalled 1,991 compared to 2,222 for the same period last year and 2,670 for last quarter of 2011. Offences ranged from assaults, property damage, motor vehi- cle theft and robberies. In releasing the statistics, ACT Policing said they reflected a decline in crime rates across the ACT compared to the same period last year. Acting Superintendent of ACT Policing Intelligence, Chris Meagher, said crime statistics allow members of the commu- nity to see what crimes were occurring in the ACT and their suburb, with the ability to view trends over time. “Of particular significance is the number L to R: Jayson Hinder, CEO of the Calwell Community-owned Bendigo Bank, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Nick Tsoulias, Vice President of the Tuggeranong Community Council of assaults reported in the City area has decreased from 101 to 76, or by 24.7%,” Calwell Shopping Centre recently played John Agius, the CEO of the Calwell he said. host to Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and Branch of the Bendigo Bank and Tugger- Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan. anong Community Council Vice Presi- According to the statistics Tuggeranong dent, Nick Tsoulias. ranked third for overall offences behind Both were in the Tuggeranong Valley Belconnen (2,490) and North Canberra selling the recently released Federal Ms Gillard also took time out to enjoy (2,438). Budget. Shoppers were surprised to see coffee with a small group of local shop- two such high profile politicians in the pers and children. The worst performing suburb in Tugger- Tuggeranong Valley followed by a pack anong was its largest, Kambah, report- of journalists, photographers and cam- This is the Prime Minister’s second visit ing a total of 312 offences in the first eramen. to the Tuggeranong Valley in three quarter of this year followed by Green- months. In February Ms Gillard, Educa- way, which includes the Tuggeranong The Prime Minster was officially wel- tion Minister, Peter Garrett and local Town Centre, with 302 offences and comed to the Calwell Shopping Centre member, Gai Brodtmann, visited St Mary Wanniassa recording 251 offences. by owner and local businessman, Con MacKillop College at Isabella Plains. Tsoulias. Mr. Tsoulias presented the Of the three suburbs, Kambah recorded Prime Minister with a book on his fam- Ms Gillard officially opened the St Jo- the highest number of assaults, property ily’s history and links with Canberra. seph the Worker Campus of the Can- damage, traffic and other offences. berra Regional Pathways Trade Training She also met with representatives of Centre. local The Men’s Shed, Frank Vrins and Continued on page 4 Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 1 CONTENTS PAGE Chisholm planning protests Residents’ spokesman, Wayne King, said he thanked the Council for its sup- port. Mr. King said residents do not want a beautiful piece of open space to be PM makes Calwell call 1 destroyed by the building of 22 ugly two Fall in Valley crime 1 storey units in the middle of their quite tranquil suburb, and especially at the Chisholm planning protests 2 cost of Chisholm Community Park. Greens claim planning success 3 “Some residents have received an email Tax review 3 from the Planning Minister, Andrew Barr, talking about further consultation with the $2m art centre upgrade 4 community, but they are concerned that Crime statistic, Tuggeranong Valley 4 this is just another way to be seen to be Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan meets with doing the right thing and then selling the More time top pay fines 5 Chisholm residents. land anyway,” he said. Paid parking push 5 Two planning projects for Chisholm have Mr. King said residents are not opposed Cost of living 6 to the right development in the right ar- raised the ire of local residents. Both Libs line up for Brindabella 6 projects are for residential develop- eas, but not on what has been known as ments, the first planned for the vacant their neighbourhood park. A Green field for Brindabella 7 land behind the Chisholm shops and the News in Brief 7 second on land at the corner of Deamer “There are other areas around Chisholm and Heagney Crescents which has long that are more suitable, including vacant Scouts take to the skies 8 been used as a neighbourhood park. land further along Deamer Crescent,” Mr. King concluded. Cane takes on 55+ 8 The proposed developments have local Off Beat, Nomadic gnome 9 residents up in arms forcing the ACT Meanwhile, another group of Chisholm residents has expressed concerns over Don’t Forget 9 Government to place on hold the sale of one block until further consultation with plans for the sale of land at the corner of residents. In the case of the Deamer and Proctor and Mead Streets for the devel- Heagney Crescents proposals, the Tug- opment of a four storey housing project. geranong Community Council (TCC) has called on the ACT Government to de- The land is directly behind Chisholm clare the a neighbourhood park. shops and adjoins the site of a new Aldi supermarket. This site includes a playground and had been earmarked for future development. TCC President, Darryl Johnston, has For many years residents have fought for already expressed concerns over the it to be declared a park. scale of the development and the impact it will have on traffic flow, particularly in The issue has once again come to a Benham Street. head with plans for as many as 22 resi- dential units on the site. At the last Coun- He said Benham Street already carries cil meeting members voted in favour of buses, general traffic, large delivery writing to the ACT Government calling on trucks to Coles and smaller trucks servic- it to officially declare the land a park. ing the other shops in Chisholm. One resident suggested it be developed For more information see: Hansard de- as a park to celebrate the 175th anniver- bate on Planning in Chisholm or visit: sary of the arrival to Australia of the sub- Chisholm Park Website. urb’s namesake, Caroline Chisholm. Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 2 Greens claim planning success Tax Review The ACT Assembly has passed amend- Requires written notice of draft A review of taxation measures in place in ments to increase public notification for variations to the Territory Plan to the Australian Capital Territory has seen draft variations to the Territory Plan, de- houses within adjoining sections the ACT Government accept 26 of the concessionalisation and new houses in (section is a piece of land review panel’s 28 recommendations, older suburbs. bounded by roads – our houses noting one and rejecting another. are on blocks within sections); These amendments were based on the For knock-down rebuilds in older Among the review’s recommendations Planning and Development (Public Notifi- suburbs, it requires the proponent were proposals to abolish stamp duty on cation) Amendment Bill introduced by the of the development proposal to real estate conveyancing; abolish duty Greens to the Assembly in March. give a written notice, including the on general insurance and life insurance plans, to residents of adjoining policies; progress a road user charge “These amendments give a better bal- properties. It will also explain system through a national agreement ance to the rights of residents to be in- what codes and regulations the between all the States and Territories; formed and have a say in developments plans have to meet. and pursue the introduction of parking that affect them with the need for an effi- fees in Canberra’s Parliamentary Trian- cient planning system,” Greens Planning “People in Canberra want to be able to gle. spokesperson, Caroline Le Couteur, have a say on planning issues in their said. The bill improves notification in neighbourhood, but all too often, they The review also recommended allowing three key areas: find out about proposals after the date the deferral of rates for some ratepayers; Requires deconcessionalisation for feedback has passed, Ms Le Couteur adopting ‘site value’ of land as the basis proposals to have pre DA consul- said. for valuations; expanding the Home tation in the same way that major Buyer Concession Scheme; abolishing developments will have to have These amendments will improve that in a residential land tax; and reviewing the as a result of PABLAB2 which number of key areas,” Ms Le Couteur administration of the ACT’s Ambulance should come into operation concluded. Levy. shortly; Source: Media Release Releasing its response to the review, the ACT Government said the report by the Taxation Review Panel confirmed that ACT Government Tax Review the ACT’s taxation mix was not unusual when its circumstances were taken into account. “When compared to the size of the econ- omy and incomes, the Territory is not a high taxing jurisdiction. Overall, the ACT’s taxation system has relatively higher economic efficiency compared to other jurisdictions,” the Government’s response stated. It said the Panel had noted that the States and Territories had to resort to inefficient taxes due to the history of Commonwealth-State financial relations. New Taxes “The need for joint Commonwealth and New $ Taxes State/Territory action on long-term re- form has been recognised by the Panel. The Government notes the Panel also suggests that measures could be taken that would improve the efficiency of the current system,” it said.