The Canberra Central Program

One of the Canberra Spatial Plans strategies is that Canberra should have a 'thriving and vibrant city centre'. That strategy aims to provide environmental, social and economic benefits for Canberra residents and for the role of the Territory as the national capital.

The National Capital Authority has also completed a detailed review of the legacy of the original Griffin Plan. That review concluded, as had the ACT Government, that Civic (Canberra Central), as the city centre of Canberra required enhancing.

A Canberra Central Taskforce was appointed in June 2004 to lead, on behalf of ACT Government, participants to implement a vitalisation program to achieve the strategic visions. Many of the projects delivered by the Canberra Central team have become an integral part of the Governments ongoing commitment to the City centre.

During the Program period, the Canberra Central Taskforce met and discussed the City issues and opportunities guided by a Terms of Reference.

The Taskforce has produced one document recommending the long-term approach to the City Hill Precinct, and the City as a whole so that a 'thriving and vibrant city' could be achieved. The recommendations are contained the Taskforce report.

The Taskforce had representatives from the public and private sectors. Both the ACT Government and National Capital Authority partnered with notable representatives from business and the community. The Taskforce met regularly and reported directly to the ACT Minister for Planning.

Program Objectives

The nine objectives that provided the framework for the Canberra Central Program and the business of the Taskforce were:

1. Vitalise Civic so that it becomes first amongst equals in the hierarchy of town centres within Canberra with City Hill Precinct as the pre-eminent heart of Civic.
2. Recognition that vitalisation will make Civic a genuine city centre; attracting people to live, work, play and stay with City Hill Precinct self evidently the focus of public and private life and activity.
3. The planning and development of City Hill Precinct must stimulate high levels of human activity, including accessibility, density and variety of use.
4. The Development of City Hill Precinct must command the highest standards of urban design, sustainability, exemplary architecture and social inclusion reflecting the character of the National Capital and providing a model for city development in Australia in the 21^st century.
5. The development of City Hill Precinct must complement and actively relate to and integrate with the existing and committed structure of the rest of Civic.
6. The planning of City Hill Precinct must be primarily directed to those demographics of the population most likely to be attracted to city living—the purpose being to maximise population and diversity of activity in Civic.
7. The planning approach to the City Hill Precinct should be guided by and extend the legacy of the Griffin plan for a vital and urban city heart by embracing contemporary realities.
8. The development of City Hill Precinct and Civic must produce an asset for the community, not a burden for taxpayers—this requires economic viability and the creation of a positive climate for private sector investment and appropriate public sector investment.
9. Flexibility to allow for future social and technological change must be a basic tenet of planning for the future development of City Hill Precinct and Civic.

The Canberra Central Program is now embedded in many of the projects being delivered by the ACT Government. It is no longer necessary to separately identify the funding.

The project list includes the following:

• Bunda Street Project
• The Canberra City Centre Marketing and Improvements Grant
• Christmas in the City—Lighting of the Canberra Christmas Tree
• Garema Place Digital Screen
• Alinga Street Streetscape Extension
• Community Safety Assessment Study
• Signage improvements
• Adjustments to the new Territory Plan
• Road Engineering Feasibility Study
• Pedestrian Movement Study
• Infrastructure Capacity and Catchment Study
• Land and Development Economics Study
• Transport Issues
• City Transport Options
• Canberra Central Car Parking Strategy
• Transport Modelling
• Canberra Central Design Manual

Links

• City Centre Marketing and Improvements Levy