WODEN VALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL INC.
Public Meeting
Wednesday 5 May 2004 1830 - 2100
Aegean Room
Hellenic Club Woden
Minutes DRAFT
Present: David Menzel (Chair), Barry Raison, Mike Reddy, Dolores Holmes, John kain, Adrian Roberts, Warwick Pearson, Bill O¹Brien
Apologies: John Pola,
The Chair, David Menzel, welcomed participants to the meeting and expressed appreciation to the two ACTPLA representatives addressing the meeting, Messrs Rod Baxter and Ian Baird from the Policy and Planning Unit supporting Canberra Urban Parks and Places (CUPP). David noted open space issues are becoming topical at present particularly in the context of the uncertainties surrounding the future of Football Park (ŒPhillip Oval¹) as a community facility.
The purpose of the meeting was to allow the ACT Government representatives to outline the planning, policy and management framework of urban parks and places in Canberra. Mr Baird then addressed the meeting:-
Key points:-
CUPP manages urban open space while Environment ACT is responsible for the Nature Parks.
CUPP Plans of Management
Canberra Urban Parks and Places has six Plans of Management, including a draft Plan of Management for Enclosed Sportsgrounds and Public Pools, a Plan for lakes and ponds and plans for each of Canberra¹s new towns (districts) and old Canberra.
These plans of management has been prepared by Canberra Urban Parks and Places and the Bureau of Sport and Recreation in accordance with the provisions in Part V of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991 .
The Woden and Weston Creek's Urban Parks and Sportsgrounds Plan of Management describes the way in which Woden and Weston Creek's urban open space is to be managed to provide for public and community use.
The Policy and Planning Unit¹s role is to (a) provide strategic open space planning and management advice, (b) undertake statutory management planning and (c) undertake social surveys to assess how well CUPP services are performing.
Ian noted that the Woden / Weston Plan is most in need of revision at this stage.
CUPP designates parks and spaces within the following categories:-
Town Parks are formal parks managed to a high standard, usually with mown and irrigated grass, paving, sculpture, shrub or flower beds. They are adjacent to and serving the main town centres and have intensive use. They may host special events. Examples Woden and Tuggeranong Town Parks, City Hill, Glebe Park.
District Parks are extensive informal parks, which include mown grassland and range in size from 4-10 ha. eg Edison Park, Haig Park, Weston Park. They serve a minimum catchment area of 25,000 to 50,000 people.
Neighbourhood Parks are small, usually between 0.25 to 2 ha. They typically have playground facilities and are located within 400m distance of residential areas. Parents with young children are the main users. They may be linked with or adjacent to cycleways, Pedestrian Parkland and Laneways.
Pedestrian Parkland is a corridor of open space providing for pedestrian movement within and between suburbs and usually contains a pathway or cycleway linking shops, parks, schools and workplaces with peoples' homes. It may contain playgrounds in suitable locations. Pedestrian Parkland often serves a dual purpose being located in natural drainage lines providing for urban stormwater drainage.
Laneways contain sealed pathways and narrow walkways between buildings and residential properties providing direct access between shops and residences.
Semi-natural Open Space areas are remnant grazing land or native vegetation and include hill-top areas, creek corridors, ridges and buffer areas between suburbs. These areas provide a bushland setting for Canberra, habitat for wildlife and help maintain biological diversity. Such areas may provide sites for community activity by Urban Landcare, Parkcare or bushland regeneration groups.
Remnant grassland or woodland sites are important for nature conservation purposes. Several proclaimed sites contain endangered plant species and may be subject to Action Plans for their conservation, which are prepared under the Nature Conservation Act 1991 .
Landscaped major road verges within suburbs containing planted trees and shrubs. The diversity and quality of the tree and shrub plantings in Canberra are responsible for much of its unique character.
The central median strip in major roadways provides sites for trees and shrubs planted for aesthetic purposes or for public safety reasons.
Informal Use Ovals are non-irrigated open dryland grass areas are located adjacent to primary schools, community facilities or shopping centres. These areas provide for informal sport and recreational use by the local community. An Informal Use Oval is considered to be an integral part of any surrounding parkland when not in use for sporting purposes.
Special Purpose Areas are large areas of open space or lake surface, which for safety or management reasons, are dedicated for particular specialised recreational activities or sporting events. Existing examples are the Yarralumla Equestrian Area, the Molonglo Reach Water Ski Area and the Hall Showground.
Ian responded to a number of questions from those present addressing:-
… Contracting out of service delivery undertaken in such areas as litter collection, tree pruning and mowing; standards of service required are specified in the contracts and standards attained are monitored
… Mr Baird undertook to provide WVCC with performance measure results for the Woden Valley district
… Irrigation of public spaces, particularly ovals water conservation measures had been adopted with onset of drought; lower category ovals no longer being watered pending breaking of drought
… Government considering options such as greater water recycling and development of low water using grasses and vegetation plus more clever / more responsive use of automatic watering systems
… Woden Town Centre water feature options in context of draft Master Plan.
Rod Baxter then briefly addressed the imminent release of the final version of the WTC Master Plan, referring to the further fine tuning of the Bus Interchange design which had recently been completed. Government had funded design work in the May Budget.
The meeting closed at 2135.