Civic is well on the way to becoming a real Central Business District (CBD) and achieving its rightful place as the dynamic heart of Canberra.
The long-term ACT Labor Government policy to strengthen the role of Civic has been supported by Commonwealth Government policies to renew its departmental office accommodation, significant retail and entertainment expansion around the Canberra Centre, market demand for inner city apartments and an extension of the Australian National University’s (ANU) activities into non campus land in City West.
The Government has recently released the Canberra City Area Action Plan 2010 – 2016. Eleven explicit targets are described in the Action Plan as a way to link policy objectives with specific implementation projects. Following public comments on the draft plan, two additional targets directly related to public transport and heritage have been included.
The 11 targets, that include measurable outcomes and implementation strategies, are:
1. Double the number of people living in the City Area;
2. Increase employment by 35%;
3. Reduce car reliance whereby the majority of people get to work by a means other than car as driver;
4. Provide non congestible bus lanes for at least 50% of inbound buses;
5. Mandate active frontages along designated ’safe routes’ to achieve a 50% increase in the number of street level building entrances;
6. Provide 17,500 publicly accessible parking spaces that are available seven days a week;
7. Provide a minimum 10% spare capacity in short stay parking areas distributed across the City area;
8. Upgrade at least half the study area’s public realm to higher standards of safety, serviceability and appearance consistent with the Canberra Central Design Manual;
9. Complete road network improvements that achieve predicted traffic performance and resultant economic benefits;
10. Construct two kilometres of new and upgraded shared use path to improve bicycle and pedestrian access; and
11. Construct at least two public realm improvement projects that are directly linked to improving the economic performance and long term viability of Civic’s heritage buildings.
Market demand and private investment are the two major assumptions underpinning all 11 targets. Through natural growth alone the City Area will, over the next six years, attract private sector investment in the order of $1,500 million (Canberra Construction Snapshot June 2010). This includes investment in office, hotel, residential, education, retail and entertainment developments.
Adapting to this growth in ways that enhance Civic as a modern and attractive city requires public investment in transport and public realm improvements to go hand in hand with private development. To this end the Action Plan prioritises high benefit projects that incrementally achieve Commonwealth and Territory planning objectives.
Business cases and design concepts for transport and public realm projects have, or are being developed, and include:
• Improved east / west pedestrian links via ‘safe routes’ focused on Alinga Street, Rudd / Bunda Street and London Circuit;
• Extend the Belconnen Way bus lane into the City Interchange via a new bus station in City West;
• City Walk public realm improvements;
• Park and ride facilities adjacent to high frequency bus lanes;
• Edinburgh Avenue extension from Vernon Circle to London Circuit including an inbound bus stop in London Circuit;
• Northbourne Avenue bus priority measures and cycle path improvements;
• Verge and laneway upgrades to Melbourne and Sydney Buildings to
improve the heritage precincts;
• London Circuit verge upgrades to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility; and
• Real time parking information signage to improve legibility and accessibility of public parking.
The Action Plan contributes to broader discussions that will lead to clearer priorities and common goals. This shared direction will help support public investment in the City Area over coming years. At this stage, commitment to fund specific projects remains subject to further consideration and decisions in the context of future budgets.
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