The Territory Planning Authority has recommended reducing community-zoned land in the Belconnen Town Centre before the Government has completed the planning work intended to understand future community infrastructure needs.
The Belconnen Community Council is calling on Jo Clay MLA, Fiona Carrick MLA, Peter Cain MLA and Caitlin Tough MLA, as members of the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning, to carefully examine the evidence before a decision is made on the proposed rezoning of the former Arscott House site.
If the Standing Committee chooses not to report on the recommendation, the decision will then progress to the Minister for Planning, Chris Steel MLA, for consideration.
If approved, the proposal would reduce community-zoned land in the Belconnen Town Centre by 8%.
This comes while research has identified growing demand for community facilities and social infrastructure across Belconnen, and before key planning work on future needs has been completed.
Good planning means understanding what the community needs first, then making decisions based on that evidence.
Once community land is gone, future generations may not have the same options.
BCC is asking the Standing Committee to ensure Belconnen’s long-term needs are properly considered before this decision is finalised.