The former Woden Canberra Institute of Technology site should not be demolished until there is a firm plan in place for the prime block, the Woden Valley Community Council says.
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The urban renewal branch of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development directorate has lodged plans to demolish the buildings and remove non-regulated trees.
The institute's Woden campus closed at the end of 2018, after a new Tuggeranong campus opened as part of a modernisation program that saw CIT shed surplus assets.
But in a submission to the application to demolish the former campus, the president of the Woden Valley Community Council, Fiona Carrick, said
She said the current buildings should be retained until a new proposal that required the demolition was approved for the site.
"All opportunities should be available and [the council] considers the demolition of the buildings premature as it eliminates proposals to refurbish the buildings," Ms Carrick wrote.
Last week, Vocational Education Minister Meegan Fitzharris revealed the government was considering moving the Reid CIT to Woden, but not reinstating the old Woden campus.
"Positioning CIT with a major presence in the heart of Woden has the potential to enhance the town centre and create an energy around a new campus that will open up a range of opportunities for CIT staff and students, local businesses, industry and the broader community," she said.
The move would pave the way to hand the campus on the city's edge to the University of NSW. The university announced plans for a new Reid campus in August 2017.
The ACT government is also in talks with the university to sell land next to Parkes Way, between Coranderrk Street and Anzac Park West.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
