Australian Capital Territory

ACTING Chief Minister Katy Gallagher last Friday released the Canberra City Area Action Plan 2010 - 2016, which includes more than $26 million for upgrades to be carried out in Civic over the next two years and an additional $3.7 million allocated to design work for other major projects.

The final plan follows the release of a draft plan in February 2010 and is intended to "synthesise infrastructure and development issues for the Canberra City Area into a coordinated Action Plan that directs short, medium and long term projects."

THE ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) has approved the development of a supermarket complex on the site of the old Giralang shopping centre.

The approval includes the construction of a new supermarket, retail commercial outlets, a loading dock and undercover and surface car parking.

THE ACT Government has launched 'Canberra 2030 – Time to Talk', asking for an in-depth conversation with the Canberra community about the kind of city Canberra should be in 2030.

The discussion will be based on 10 themes - Population, Water, Canberra Homes, Getting Around, Land Use and Planning, Liveability and Wellbeing, City Form, Environmental Sustainability, Living in the Nation's Capital, and 'Who Pays?'.

THE ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) this week refused two development applications for the Kingston Foreshore, saying that the proposals do not comply with Territory Plan provisions.

Chief Planning Executive Neil Savery said the two development proposals on Trevillian Quay exceeded height regulations, did not comply with ground level frontage and did not provide any potential for active frontage on either the quay or lake sides.

THE ACT Government this Tuesday released the first ever infrastructure plan for the ACT. Released by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, the 10-year document will be updated annually and includes short and medium-term infrastructure priorities, as well as "visionary long-term projects."

Mr Stanhope said the ACT Government recognises the importance of high quality infrastructure and had invested substantially in the Territory's infrastructure. "Our annual capital works expenditure almost tripled from around $110 million in 2001-02 to $296 million in 2008-09. Works-in-progress for 2009-10 are well on track and will eclipse last year's record spend. In our latest Budget, $394 million has been allocated to new projects, with a cash allocation of around $2 billion towards capital projects over the next four years," Mr Stanhope said.

THE PROPERTY Council of Australia has released an action plan for Canberra, saying it needs to "grow up and take the brave decisions about the city of tomorrow."

The plan, titled 'The Urgency is Now - Action Plan for Canberra's Future', was released last week and "outlines a vision for Canberra that is diverse and sustainable and counts in the eyes of the nation." Property Council ACT Executive Director, Catherine Carter, said the "decisions made now will make or break this city, so the need for big ideas and action is urgent."

"The Property Council's fear is that a continued ad hoc approach to planning, design and construction will see a diminished Federal Government presence and investment in Canberra, a larger carbon footprint and declining community services due to lack of growth... Growth is not an environmental threat as long as we grow intelligently. We need a genuine long-term vision for our city and we need it now," Ms Carter said.