The ACT government has come under fire for pulling out of a meeting with Dickson residents to discuss newly approved plans for the Coles and Doma development.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, they have agreed to meet with the community after the timeframe to appeal the plans has expired.
The modified plans to build two supermarkets and 140 apartments near Dickson shops were given the green light in late June.
Dickson Residents' Group convenor Jane Goffman invited representatives from the Environment and Planning Directorate to a community meeting to discuss the plans.
In response, a letter from environment and planning director-general Dorte Ekelund said holding a meeting before the date appeals close, July 27, would be risky.
"There is a real risk that community members would be dissatisfied with a public meeting where 'there was no new information'," the letter read.
Ms Ekelund did offer to hold a "small briefing for key representatives".
However, Ms Goffman said the information would be irrelevant if the community did not get a chance to have their say.
Ms Goffman, who spent most of her children's school holidays planning the meeting, was angered by the decision.
She questioned why the government was waiting to explain the plans if they had nothing to hide.
The office manager for Minister for Planning Mick Gentlemen had initially said members of the planning directorate would be available to answer questions at the meeting. However, after Ms Goffman printed flyers, advertised the event and booked a venue, she was advised no representative would be available.
"They're so afraid somebody is going to run off and file and appeal that they don't want to say anything in case it makes that more likely," Ms Goffman said.
"I would have thought the whole point was for them to allay concerns."
Ms Goffman believed the government was trying to "batten down the hatches".
"What we're talking about here is public scrutiny and the stifling of that. What is does, it seems to me, is to signal a siege mentality."
A spokesman for Mr Gentlemen said it would be "inappropriate" for government representatives to attend the initial meeting, slated for July 21.
"Until it is known whether there will be an appeal or not, any explanation given by the delegate at such a meeting would be the same as that provided in the notice of decision," the spokesman said.
