The National Capital Planning Authority has a new chair _ Professor Evan Walker. The appointment was announced yesterday by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Housing and Regional Development, Brian Howe. Professor Walker is Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Melbourne and was a Minister in the Victorian Government from 1982 to 1990.
He takes up the role immediately.
The appointment comes at a critical time for the organisation which has several major matters on its plate:
First, a recommendation last month by the Federal Government Urban Design Task Force that the Federal Government take a greater role in the renewal and development of Australian cities and that expertise for that role be provided by a greater role for the NCPA.
Second, the steering though of the first major planning look at Canberra’s Central National Area since the early 1960s, which will look at the placement of major national institutions and land use within the area.
Third, dealing with Canberra’s role in the debate about national identity leading up to the bicentennary, including such things as the role and placement of the National Museum.
Fourth, the launch of an Australia-wide public consultation process on what Australians want their capital to be.
Fifth, a critical role in responding to Canberra-wide transport needs in light of the NCPA’s statutory responsibility over transport arteries.
Sixth, a growing role in the export of Australian planning expertise, especially in south-east Asia.
The previous chair, merchant banker Joseph Skrzynski, did not seek renewal because of commitments to business and economic advisory roles to government. Mr Skrzynski articulated the need for the Federal Government to look after its economic assets in Canberra, to identify them and to ensure their long- and short-term maintenance and helped launch the Central National Area study.
Professor Walker, 59, holds a master degree in architecture and was a partner in the Melbourne firm Walker and Jackson. He held half a dozen ministerial portfolios, mainly in land use fields, but also education.
Another vacancy on the NCPA board is yet to be filled. The term of Canberra-community member Fred Quinane also expired on November 30.
I understand that under the Government’s unwritten gender-equity rules a woman is being sought for the job and there is an unwritten requirement that she be a full-time Canberra resident.
The other three members are Professor Paul Reid and Dr Catherin (correct) Bull who both have a year to run and the chief executive of the NCPA is an ex-officio member.
The chief executive’s position is vacant with the three-year contractual appointment in August of Lyndsay Neilson to a deputy secretary’s position in Mr Howe’s department.
Gary Prattley has been acting chief executive for all but a few weeks of the past two years.