People living near the CSIRO's massive Ginninderra field station have escalated their opposition to a plan for the land to be sold, likely for new housing development.
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In a submission set to be lodged with the National Capital Authority this month, a group of neighbours argue changing the National Capital Plan classification of 701-hectare field station from hills, ridges and buffer spaces to an urban area would detract from the character of Canberra and ruin the approach to the capital from the Barton Highway.
The farm site, first established in 1960, sits on the ACT-New South Wales border, framed by the Barton Highway, William Slim Drive, Owen Dixon Drive and Kuringa Drive. In August, the research organisation said proceeds from any sale of the under-used land would go to new and improved facilities for priority research projects.
The newly-established Concerned CSIRO Neighbours group said rezoning the farm, likely to be developed into new housing, would not meet the National Capital Plan objective of maintaining and enhancing the landscape character of Canberra and the territory.
"Canberra is known both nationally and internationally as a planned city and recognised for the beauty of its setting with respect to its garden city landscape supported by the backdrop of the surrounding hills, ridges and open spaces," the submission said.
"To allow this rezoning would see a diminution of this characteristic with the Barton Highway approach to Canberra looking like any other major city with sprawling urban development abutting a main approach to the city."
Spokeswoman Roslyn Chan said the submission would be lodged before the November 13 deadline. The ACT government will watch the decision closely as the proposed rezoning could make way for hundreds of new homes and see changes to the territory land release scheme, tied to population demand.
The group's submission also questioned the possible loss of the land buffer between housing and development in Gungahlin and Belconnen, risking a default merger of the two districts.
"Environmentally, the green open space of the [site] lessens the micro climate heat generated from Gungahlin, which according to CSIRO research is due to the high density of housing.
"The innate pastoral beauty of the landscape, along with the cultivated soils, should be preserved and a range of options to meet community interests should be explored," the submission said.
The group questioned the CSIRO's motives for selling the site and called for improved transparency in the National Capital Plan process.
"The national capital should not be allowed to become just another city, but rather it should retain its uniqueness as envisaged in the National Capital Plan," the submission said.
In August, CSIRO business and infrastructure general manager Mark Wallis said the organisation made regular reviews of its large property portfolio. No plans for how or when the proposed sale would proceed had been made.
Since relocation from the current site of the Dickson shops in the 1960s, the research station has been used for development of genetically modified wheat, disease-preventing wholegrains and specialised sustainable farming techniques.
The CSIRO plans to continue farming-based research at a new site outside Boorowa.