Have your say on the Brumbies' plans for the Griffith Oval precinct in our poll
here.
Opinion was split last night at the first meeting to discuss the Brumbies' plans for the Griffith Oval precinct, with some welcoming them as good for the area and others raising concerns about the loss of local amenity and public space.
An online poll by The Canberra Times was also divided on the issue last night.
The Brumbies have so far released only indicative plans, which may see them build about 150 apartments or townhouses on the site of their current Austin Street offices and the former Canberra South Bowling and Recreation Club, which the Brumbies bought last year for more than $2million.
Consultant town planner Tony Adams said the units might be graduated, starting with lower levels on Austin Street and going up to a maximum three storeys towards Flinders Way. The Brumbies also want to develop their new administration headquarters on Griffith Oval, with sales of the housing bankrolling that development.
There is also provision on their concept plans for a community facility such as a sports medicine centre or child-care centre to be built between Griffith Oval and Oval No2. The Brumbies need approval from the ACT Planning and Land Authority to rezone the bowling club site from leisure and accommodation to medium-density residential.
Griffith Oval would also need to be rezoned from urban open space to restricted access recreation, which allowed ''a range of sport and recreation facilities whether in public or private ownership which may be commercial in nature''.
The ACTPLA has asked the Brumbies to do a planning report to justify the rezonings.
More than 70 people attended last night's information session, including Opposition Leader Zed Seselja.
Captain Cook Crescent resident Lachie McOmish said he was concerned about the general concept of the Government allowing the commercial use of a public asset, such as Griffith Oval, without a competitive tender process first.
Planning Minister Andrew Barr said one might not be required.
''Yes, a direct sale or sub-lease is possible,'' Mr Barr said.
''The Government will consider a proposal to provide the Brumbies greater tenure and management control of the site based on a full assessment of the proposal by the Legislative Assembly planning committee, including feedback the community provides to the Brumbies.''
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan has said it was too early to say if a redeveloped Griffith Oval would be shut off to the public. But he said if the project went ahead, the resulting multimillion-dollar investment might need ''protection''.
''To what extent, I don't know. Whether that actually happens, I don't know. I don't want to say categorically everything will be exactly the same as it is,'' he said.
Consultant landscape architect David Telfer said there were 279 trees in the precinct but it was unknown how many would go until further plans were done.
Barrallier Street resident Belinda Bodman said she was ''all for'' the redevelopment as long as community access to the oval remained. Wells Garden resident Charles O'Hanlon said as long as ''the accommodation footprint was respected'', he believed the development ''would add value to the community''. ''My concern is if the Brumbies did not get what they wanted and they left, we would get untrammelled development and the end result would be a lot worse.''
Another resident who did not want to be named said she believed there was enough open space in the No2 Oval and playground.
''I'm all for what the Brumbies want to do and I wouldn't mind living in one of the apartments.''
Griffith resident Genette Purnell said she was opposed to the development because she didn't have faith in the planning processes.
The second public information session with be held at the former bowling club in Austin Street today from 4pm to 7pm.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter