PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
2015 Woden Town Centre Master Plan
The town centre is centrally located and has potential to be a great community and commercial hub for Woden and the wider region, including public cultural and recreational facilities.
The Master Plan enables the ACT Government’s policy for a compact city - the 70% infill policy - by zoning for residential towers across the centre.
While the WVCC supports development, we want it to be done well with a balance between homes, jobs, public (green) spaces and community facilities.
A 30 year population forecast is required to plan for the growing community and ensure the town centre is liveable and traffic congestion is managed.
The Vision in the Master Plan is:
Woden town centre is a major community and commercial hub for the Woden Valley and wider Canberra region.
It will be a place that attracts people to live, work, socialise and enjoy throughout the day and evenings.
The town square is the central focal point for social and community activity that will connect people to a network of safe and active streets and public parks.
This is a reasonable vision but how well has it been implemented over the last 7 years?
The Woden Experiment upgraded the square with tables, a small uncovered stage and more trees which look better however there are still no cafes, restaurants or bars facing onto the square (or wind mitigation measures).
The development of residential towers to date
Unfortunately the zoning for the town centre is a very blunt instrument to facilitate residential densification. It is a building heirarchy with towers getting taller towards the centre.
The plan has anomolies and is no longer followed:
the town square is the central focal point however its perimiter is zoned for 28 storeys
the recreaation precinct in the north is now primarily residential towers
We are concerned that Woden’s spatial plan includes ‘Living Precincts’ across the Town Centre that has led to the loss of community facilities and public spaces. The Phillip Service area is also at risk.
The spatial plan
Recreation and Living Precinct (orange) - Residential towers have replaced the pitch n putt, basketball stadium, bowling greens, tennis courts, YMCA (moved to Chifley) and pitch n putt. The ice skating is moving to Tuggeranong and the pool is likely to close permanently at that stage. Phillip Oval is locked so the squash courts are the only accessible facility left.
Public (green) Spaces - the town square has been zoned for 28 storey towers around its perimeter which will cause unacceptable overshadowing and exacerbate the wind. We have lost (or will lose) the pitch n putt, A&A courtyards and the Athllon Drive corridor.
Service Trades Living Precinct (purple) - to date we have lost the Magnet Mart (and garden centre) and we expect more businesses will move as apartments are developed.
Zoning - updated in 2018
Woden’s zoning is a blunt instrument - a building hierarchy which means the towers increase in height towards the centre reaching 28 storeys around the perimeter of the Town Square (shown in green).
There is no consideration of the building heights required to allow sun into public spaces. Community facilities were not identified.
We have over 30 towers at different stages of planning and construction. At an average of 2 people per apartment this equates to over 10,000 people. There are more towers to come.
Facilities should be equitably distributed
The loss of facilities in Woden has led to an inequitable distribution of public investment in community assets.
Canberra was designed to have community facilities in the town centres that service their catchments and are accessible by public transport from around their catchment - reducing the use of cars.
Active streets and al fresco dining
This diagram is from the Territory Plan - the law. The grey areas show where should be active fronts.
It was refreshing to hear Westfield say they would turn outwards as they have with Bradley Street near Hoyts. We would like to see them activate their sunny side of the town square.
We would also like the Hellenic Club and the Southern Cross Club to open onto the streets and bring activity and life to the public realm rather than internalising the people.
Note, the text on this diagram includes recreation facilities however there are none identified.
Impacts
Without facilities and active streets (aka ‘vibe’) it is difficult to attract activity.
The objective of the ‘Amp it Up’ grants is to support the live performance art industry following the impacts of COVID-19.
Unfortunately we did not receive any grants for live performances due to limited live music venues in the south.
A facility like the Street Theatre would be terrific.
The fight for public spaces
Cities are fundamentally about people. Public spaces are the key to planning a great city, they are what make it come alive. Great public spaces don’t happen by accident, they require incredible dedication and enormous attention to detail.
Have a look at this TED Talk. Amanda Burden was New York’s Chief City Planner between 2002 and 2013 and provides inspiration about the challenges and persistence required to create great public spaces.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
2015 Woden Town Centre Master Plan
The town centre is centrally located and has potential to be a great community and commercial hub for Woden and the wider region, including public cultural and recreational facilities.
The Master Plan enables the ACT Government’s policy for a compact city - the 70% infill policy - by zoning for residential towers across the centre.
While the WVCC supports development, we want it to be done well with a balance between homes, jobs, public (green) spaces and community facilities.
A 30 year population forecast is required to plan for the growing community and ensure the town centre is liveable and traffic congestion is managed.
The Vision in the Master Plan is:
Woden town centre is a major community and commercial hub for the Woden Valley and wider Canberra region.
It will be a place that attracts people to live, work, socialise and enjoy throughout the day and evenings.
The town square is the central focal point for social and community activity that will connect people to a network of safe and active streets and public parks.
This is a reasonable vision but how well has it been implemented over the last 7 years?
The Woden Experiment upgraded the square with tables, a small uncovered stage and more trees which look better however there are still no cafes, restaurants or bars facing onto the square (or wind mitigation measures).
The development of residential towers to date
Unfortunately the zoning for the town centre is a very blunt instrument to facilitate residential densification. It is a building heirarchy with towers getting taller towards the centre.
The plan has anomolies and is no longer followed:
the town square is the central focal point however its perimiter is zoned for 28 storeys
the recreaation precinct in the north is now primarily residential towers
We are concerned that Woden’s spatial plan includes ‘Living Precincts’ across the Town Centre that has led to the loss of community facilities and public spaces. The Phillip Service area is also at risk.
The spatial plan
Recreation and Living Precinct (orange) - Residential towers have replaced the pitch n putt, basketball stadium, bowling greens, tennis courts, YMCA (moved to Chifley) and pitch n putt. The ice skating is moving to Tuggeranong and the pool is likely to close permanently at that stage. Phillip Oval is locked so the squash courts are the only accessible facility left.
Public (green) Spaces - the town square has been zoned for 28 storey towers around its perimeter which will cause unacceptable overshadowing and exacerbate the wind. We have lost (or will lose) the pitch n putt, A&A courtyards and the Athllon Drive corridor.
Service Trades Living Precinct (purple) - to date we have lost the Magnet Mart (and garden centre) and we expect more businesses will move as apartments are developed.
Zoning - updated in 2018
Woden’s zoning is a blunt instrument - a building hierarchy which means the towers increase in height towards the centre reaching 28 storeys around the perimeter of the Town Square (shown in green).
There is no consideration of the building heights required to allow sun into public spaces. Community facilities were not identified.
We have over 30 towers at different stages of planning and construction. At an average of 2 people per apartment this equates to over 10,000 people. There are more towers to come.
Facilities should be equitably distributed
The loss of facilities in Woden has led to an inequitable distribution of public investment in community assets.
Canberra was designed to have community facilities in the town centres that service their catchments and are accessible by public transport from around their catchment - reducing the use of cars.
Active streets and al fresco dining
This diagram is from the Territory Plan - the law. The grey areas show where should be active fronts.
It was refreshing to hear Westfield say they would turn outwards as they have with Bradley Street near Hoyts. We would like to see them activate their sunny side of the town square.
We would also like the Hellenic Club and the Southern Cross Club to open onto the streets and bring activity and life to the public realm rather than internalising the people.
Note, the text on this diagram includes recreation facilities however there are none identified.
Impacts
Without facilities and active streets (aka ‘vibe’) it is difficult to attract activity.
The objective of the ‘Amp it Up’ grants is to support the live performance art industry following the impacts of COVID-19.
Unfortunately we did not receive any grants for live performances due to limited live music venues in the south.
A facility like the Street Theatre would be terrific.
The fight for public spaces
Cities are fundamentally about people. Public spaces are the key to planning a great city, they are what make it come alive. Great public spaces don’t happen by accident, they require incredible dedication and enormous attention to detail.
Have a look at this TED Talk. Amanda Burden was New York’s Chief City Planner between 2002 and 2013 and provides inspiration about the challenges and persistence required to create great public spaces.