A third 15-storey residential for Kingston was ruled out by the National Capital Planning Authority yesterday. In doing so it imposed a new tree-canopy height limit in the national areas except the parliamentary zone, Russell, Campbell Park and sites adjoining Northbourne and Constitution Avenue.
The chief executive of the NCPA, Lyndsay Neilson, said the community had reacted strongly against the tower.
The Federal Minister for Local Government, Brian Howe, who with the NCPA is responsible for the national elements of Canberra, had signed the new height limit. It would be typically three- or four-storey at tree-canopy height. The 80-unit tower would have gone opposite the Kingston shops.
The proponent, Willemsen Constructions Pty Ltd, reacted angrily yesterday. Its managing director, Gary Willemsen, said it was a shame for Canberra. There was a growing need for this sort of accommodation which provided greater security which was important for an aging population and for people who worked in Canberra and lived here only five days a week. It was hard to see how these needs could be met.
“”Anyone with any original thought found it impossible to get it through,” he said. “”Development is stalled everywhere.” The planning system was a mess and couple of objectors could stall things.
Mr Willemsen said he had 55 employees six weeks ago. He was now down to three and had no projects under construction for the first time in 25 years. He had a replacement project on the tower site for three- and four-storeys still in the consultation stage
Mr Neilson said the tower was inconsistent with the National Capital Plan. When a draft variation had been proposed the public consultation process had drawn widespread criticism of it.
Mr Willemsen said a lot of objection had come from residents of the existing towers who had been worried about their property values falling.
The president of the Canberra Conservation Council, Jacqui Rees, said she was thankful that someone advising Mr Howe on this project had a sense of responsibility about Canberra. The fact that it went as far as it did showed the charade of present planning procedures and a need for a Royal Commission.
The Kingston development had caused former National Capital Development Commission chief Sir John Overall to say that Canberra had become developer-driven. It was fortunate that the Commonwealth could step in on this one.