Minister Barr: Development Applications mark beginning of Canberra transformation
- Written by ACT Government
Released 04/06/2015
Our public housing renewal agenda is gathering pace with the submission of three Development Applications (DAs) today.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) will today submit applications to demolish outdated public housing which is being replaced with new accommodation as part of the government’s unprecedented housing renewal program. The program will see 1288 quality homes built or acquired for our public housing tenants.
The Government is undertaking the most significant redevelopment of public housing in the history of our city in order to house our most vulnerable in appropriate and modern homes. The Government throughout this process is committed to ensuring that no tenants will need to move until suitable new homes are available. After all tenants have been suitably relocated, the old buildings will be demolished to make way for quality urban renewal projects.
The applications cover demolition of the majority of buildings in the Northbourne Housing Precinct; the Bega and Allawah Flats in the City; and a DA for the Estate Development Plan for the redevelopment of the Currong and Allawah apartments.
These sites are tired and, in many cases, an eyesore. They are also unsuitable and inappropriate as housing for our most vulnerable citizens.
On Northbourne the two northernmost Bachelor Flats and one of the pair houses will remain and the LDA will work also work with the Gallery Of Australian Design to record the heritage of the area and mark the history of public housing in Canberra. It is envisaged that the ground floor of the Lyneham Tower will be converted to a heritage museum in the future.
The Public Housing Renewal Taskforce is moving ahead with the building of new homes for tenants housed in these old buildings. Over the coming weeks, contracts will be signed with many construction companies to build new and better public housing across Canberra.
The Government has signed a National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government under their Asset Recycling Initiative to sell these surplus sites and have them redeveloped. This is the beginning of implementing this partnership – with the Allawah and Currong Flats sites to be out in the market place in August this year.
The decision on these DAs will allow for the urban renewal of our city and for major redevelopment along the entrance to Canberra. My Government is getting on with the job of transforming Canberra into a vibrant and modern city in its second century.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
