A parliamentary joint committee has today recommended excluding existing medium density housing, including Staffordshire Terrace, from a precinct-wide development plan in Narrabundah at what is known as Hume Circle.
It follows strong advocacy from local community organisations and residents who objected to the change to the National Capital Plan that would have brought their homes under National Capital Authority planning.
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock, who pushed hard for the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories inquiry into Amendment 102, welcomed the result.
“Canberrans care deeply about housing affordability and there is strong support for increased density in infill suburban areas, as long as it’s done right,” Senator Pocock said.
“This means proper consultation, appropriate height limits and - most importantly - making sure the supporting infrastructure is part of the plan and delivered early in the process.
“The NCA lost community trust at the outset with this project by doing a short consultation over summer and failing to provide supporting studies and detailed information about the proposal while also putting forward a 15-storey building height limit adjacent to existing three-storey housing.
“To do density well we need to treat the people who live here as partners in getting it right, not as objections to be managed.
“Hume Circle has great potential but it’s already one of the most accident-prone intersections in the ACT so it’s no wonder residents want to see traffic studies and plans to improve safety.
“This committee inquiry is also a terrific example of parliamentarians working across party lines to support the community and I extend my sincere thanks to the Chair, Alicia Payne, and Deputy Chair, Senator Andrew McLachlan.
“I also acknowledge and thank Territories Minister Kristy McBain for her genuine engagement with us. I urge the Minister to consider the Committee’s report and consider asking the NCA to table an updated Amendment consistent with our recommendations.”
In addition to recommending that Staffordshire Terrace be removed from Amendment 102, the Committee also unanimously recommended that the NCA publish supporting technical studies before public consultation begins, that there be a steering committee that includes a community representative, and crucially that the development in the precinct include social and affordable housing.