Canberrans are concerned about "rat runs" through suburban streets near Northbourne Avenue, but prepared to accept higher densities on the gateway avenue if it's done properly, according to the National Capital Authority.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The authority has done initial consultation for the new City and Gateway Urban Renewal Framework, with inner north residents worried about building heights, cycle paths and rat runs. About 100 people fronted up to a most recent session in Downer, one of the most affected suburbs where building heights along the avenue are set to more than double.
The authority's director of strategic planning, Rebecca Sorensen, said the general sentiment from consultation sessions was cautious optimism and acceptance of change, especially when it came to taller buildings and increased density.
“Some people are happy to accept increases in height and density provided it's done well, and we get quality architectural design, good landscaping outcomes and things like that,” she said.
She said many of the concerns, such as the potential that many smaller streets running parallel with Northbourne Avenue would become high-traffic "rat-runs", would form part of the subsequent planning phases.
Convenor of the Downer Residents Association Miles Boak said while the consultation was welcome, it remained to seen whether any of the concerns would be addressed in practice.
"Obviously the plans mean big change for Downer, so we're pleased that they are doing strategic planning and thinking about what it means for the community," he said.
"But there is a lot of angst out there about what it means for local residents.
"At the moment, it’s more consultation, asking people what their views were, but it's unclear how the whole thing is going to pan out."
He said the current plans had the potential to almost double the population in a suburb that no longer had a school or functioning shopping centre, and many of the areas smaller streets would be affected by extra traffic and on-street parking.
"We very much want a global look at how it's going to impact holistically on the suburb," he said.
The project to transform the entry route to Canberra, from the Federal Highway, and Northbourne Avenue into the city, is a collaboration between the National Capital Authority and the ACT government.
Ms Sorensen said the plan was still "a very high-level policy document", with little concrete detail, which meant there was room to start addressing some of the issues raised in the information sessions.
Public consultation on the city and gateway draft urban design framework is open until April 27, yoursay.act.gov.au
