A tourist gateway to Canberra on the Federal Highway and no development on Mount Majura foothills are the major changes to a new draft plan for North Watson issued yesterday.
It is the first major part of the ACT Government’s urban infill program to get under way.
It will put 1300 dwellings in vacant land in an area north of the present suburb, bounded by the Federal Highway and Antill Street. They will be a much higher density than old Watson. It will also provide a tourist gateway to the National Capital along the Federal Highway.
Public comment will be invited in advertisements at the weekend.
The development has attracted $13.7 million from the Federal Better Cities program.
The development was foreshadowed in the Draft Territory Plan earlier this year, but significant changes have been made following public comment. Further comment can be made on this draft, but after that the plan will become final.
The degazettal of a strip of land north of the present suburb which had earlier been reserved for the extension of Stirling Avenue to Antill Street. This becomes urban open space, forming a buffer between the old and new suburb with comprehensive landscaping.
The continuation of Aspinall Street to Antill Street. No development east of Antill Street.
The area bounded by the new Aspinall Street, Antill Street and the Federal Highway to be a mix of entertainment, accommodation and leisure and residential. The area bounded by Aspinall Street, Antill Street and the old suburb to be purely residential, though existing leaseholders can continue with present purposes.
Maximum heights to be two-storey, except along the Federal Highway, where there can be four.
Development is to ensure maximum residential amenity and preservation of trees.
Cycleway and pedestrian links to old Watson and across Antill Street to the vacant land beyond.
The closing date for comment is May 17. Comments should be addressed to the Chief Planner, ACT Planning Authority, PO Box 1908. Canberra. 2601.
The Minister for Environment Land and Planning, Bill Wood, said the Government had listened to the community in changing the original plan, especially in eliminating the proposed development east of Antill Street which is used for horse-riding and adjoins Mount Majura and the landscaped open space between the new and old suburb. But he accepted that the draft would not please everyone, especially the Watson Community Association.
The association and the Government have been at odds for some months. The Government argues that the 123-hectare site just six kilometres from Civic is ideal for infill and will save on infrastructure costs, making better use of schools and other facilities that would not have to be built if the houses were put on outer greenfields sites.
The association says the Government is using Better Cities money for what is essentially a greenfields site. They say it would be cheaper to provide the houses in Gungahlin. They accuse the Government of misusing the Better Cities money ostensibly to provide better sewerage for North Canberra but really to provide it for greenfields development in Gungahlin. They say developers will make winfall gains at the expense of the community.
Mr Wood says the Better Cities money is being used properly and North Watson has been seen as part of urban area since 1970s.
Mr Wood said, “”What the Watson Community Association is really saying is “urban renewal is a good thing as long as it is not at North Watson’.