Australians are to be asked what to they want from their capital under a project launched yesterday by the National Capital Planning Authority.
The authority says it is “”time to reassess the vision of Canberra to take the National Capital into the next century.
That would be done through the central national area design study, the acting chief executive of the NCPA, Gary Prattley, said yesterday.
It would be the third major vision step in the continuous development of the capital. The first was the gazettal of the Griffin Plan in 1925 and the second of was the adoption of the Holford Plan in 1958.
“”The approach of the centenary of federation in 2001 makes the time of the study even more appropriate,” he said. “”The centenary presents all Australians with an opportunity to reflect on national identity and some of the possibilities for the future development of the nation.”
Like the process that led to federation, the development of the national capital should come from the will and desire of the people, not be imposed from above.
“”We intend to consult with Australians about what it is they want from their national capital, their hopes and aspirations, and its importance and significance for them,” Mr Prattley said.
A design team led by the NCPA’s design executive director, Rohan Dickson, was working in a studio at Old Parliament House and people would get a chance to see some work next week.
The study would concentrate on the central national area: the parliamentary zone, the lake, ANU, ADFA and Duntroon, the airport, the diplomatic areas, Russell, Acton Peninsula and West Basin, Yarramundi Reach and City Hill.
(Some of the major central national area issues that are likely to come up, judging on past debate are: what to do with the great spaces within the Triangle, completing the Triangle at Russell, defining the Triangle better, what to do with Acton Peninsula, dealing with the way Parkes Way cuts the city from the lake, the gateway from the airport, and better commercial and recreational uses of the lake shore.)
Mr Prattley said the study would look at what makes up our national identity, symbols, urban change in Canberra, needs of workforce and tourists, opportunities and constraints.
The challenge was to find solutions which helped Canberra to mean something to Australians and to express our identity to the rest of the world.
Research showed that Australians wanted a capital they could be proud of, but sentiment was mixed.
“”People want their kids to be taught about the capital. They feel proud of the place when they are visiting. But when they are not in the capital they see it at least partly as a place of government waste and express antagonism or at worst uninterest,” he said.
The consultation strategy would involve complementary activities including seminars, functions, extensive research, direct mail and advertising throughout Australia aimed at the widest possible audience and to encourage groups and individuals to have their say.
The NCPA has engaged eight design, architectural, landscape and management consultants for the study.