The Kingston and Barton Residents' group has raised concerns about the use of master plans, after architects for Geocon's Kingston Arts Precinct described their proposal as the area's "new master plan".
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The group's president Rebecca Scouller said a presentation on Wednesday was told that Geocon tender documents were considered to be a new master plan.
The Kingston and Barton Residents' group has raised concerns about the use of master plans, after architects for Geocon's Kingston Arts Precinct described their proposal as the area's "new master plan".
The group's president Rebecca Scouller said a presentation on Wednesday was told that Geocon tender documents were considered to be a new master plan.
The architect - David Sutherland from Fender Katsalidis - on Wednesday said the presented designs were the "new master plan".
Ms Scouller said it raised concerns about who produced master plans and what needed to be considered in their development.
"Compliance and variation from master plans has been a concern across Canberra, including Manuka Oval, Woden, Dickson and Curtin. Even Canberra's newer suburbs are experiencing the pressure from developers to alter agreed master plans," she said.
Ms Scouller said master plans should be reviewed periodically and were an opportunity for community, business and landholders to outline a vision and values for an area.
"With time we also tend to see a trend of increasing community interest in heritage, environment and the protection of green and open spaces as the natural counterbalance balance to urban infill.
"This doesn't mean places remain the same forever, however it does mean that we are not making irreversible decisions for future generations about their amenity and sustainability into the future," she said.
This doesn't mean places remain the same forever, however it does mean that we are not making irreversible decisions for future generations about their amenity and sustainability into the future.
- Kingston and Bartin Residents group president Rebecca Scouller
A spokeswoman for the ACT government said three master plan studies had informed the Kingston Arts Precinct, but none had been formally adopted.
"For a master plan to be formally adopted, they must go through an 'estate development plan' development application process which informs the Territory Plan," the spokeswoman said.
"This is a statutory process Geocon are required to complete as part of the agreement with the ACT government."
The spokeswoman said each master plan had shaped the development of the Kingston Arts Precinct.
"This has been an ongoing journey where informative studies have led us to where we are today," she said.
Ms Scouller said she was also concerned after it appeared a question-and-answer session was shut down on Wednesday night.
An ACT government spokeswoman said the formal consultation process would begin in the coming weeks and the event was an opportunity for arts organisations, resident groups and key stakeholders to hear from the architects.
The Canberra Times understands no question-and-answer session was ever planned and residents' groups were offered a separate briefing.
The organisations set to move to Kingston are Canberra Contemporary Artspace, Craft ACT, M16 Artspace, ArtSound FM and PhotoAccess.
John-Paul Romano, who runs the Inner-South Business Council, said businesses in the area had welcomed to the announcement the foreshore block would be developed soon.
"The new precinct will bring more life to the Kingston foreshore, where some businesses are currently struggling to keep the doors open," he said.
Mr Romano said local business owners wanted adequate public parking and high-quality development, which they trusted would occur.
"Such development benefits not only the businesses of Kingston foreshore but also those of Kingston and Manuka," he said.
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.
