Canberra’s ‘Northern Gateway Project’ leaves locals divided

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The ACT government says plans to re-zone parts of Canberra’s inner north to make way for one thousand new homes have earned a thumbs-up from most residents.  But some locals are pushing back against the so-called 'Northern Gateway Project', warning it threatens the character of their beloved suburbs.

Transcript

00:00They're the blueprints for Canberra's inner north that have some residents seeing red.

00:07The proposal is completely inappropriate.

00:09Five and six storey apartment blocks built immediately next door to single storey houses

00:14on what are fundamentally fairly small blocks.

00:17If they want to have more development and higher density,

00:20they've got to invest in footpaths, more parking around here, the sewer.

00:26Ahead of the 2024 ACT election, Labor committed to delivering 30,000 new homes by 2030.

00:33It wants to put 1,000 of them here, close to light rail alongside the Federal Highway

00:38and Northbourne Avenue in Watson and Downer.

00:41The government will need to amend the territory plan first

00:44and rezone 219 blocks from suburban RZ1 to medium density RZ3 and 4.

00:52This is about creating sustainable, walkable communities that are close to existing light rail and rapid bus stops.

01:00The proposal limits building heights to between eight and a half metres or two storeys

01:05and 18 metres or five storeys in line with community feedback received before the pandemic.

01:11And the government says most of the 93 submissions received recently were more than supportive.

01:17They seek to articulate a position of going further than what this proposal has.

01:22So I think it should.

01:23Having more people to kind of keep that density of community around feels like a positive thing.

01:30Still pockets of opposition persist.

01:32We would like to see the density reduced that's more commiserate with what's in the suburb.

01:39Some people will inevitably have to move out because of this because the quality of their life will obviously deteriorate.

01:48The proposal will be considered by the Assembly's planning committee next year.

01:53The proposal is going further across the community this year,

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