The council has for a long time held concerns about the development of the area and decisions to allow high rise buildings with little thought about the land in between them.

A master plan completed more than a decade ago has not been followed and the council contends it has enabled random development that has contributed to the decay of the town centre.

There is no doubt that town centres are the right place for high rise developments but approving residential towers in an otherwise barren location could be a recipe for disaster.

If the ACT government really wants Woden to become "a better place to work, live, shop and socialise" then it needs to make practical changes to allow it to happen and not just permit 28 storey height limits.

The town centre has been suffering from the loss of federal public service departments and the foot traffic that goes along with them.

The government's decision to relocate ACT Health staff to office space in Woden is a welcome move - it brings an additional 600 people to the area.

While helpful, like the decision to bring light rail to Woden, it will not in itself improve the future for those living in the town centre.

That takes a visionary, long-term approach that looks at the area as a whole and the facilities and services that would attract people to it.

The government has so far listened to the community about its desire to be heard on this issue and the forum held this week was certainly a step in the right direction.

Engaging with the community is important but what comes next is what Woden residents really want to know.

Labor MLA Chris Steel is right when he says that territory plan variations need to be set in stone before stakeholders will commit to the area and help its renewal.

Likewise the community will entrust the government when it commits to real change and vision for their long forgotten part of town.