WODEN VALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL INC.

David Menzel (Chair), Mike Reddy, Dolores Holmes, Anne Walls, Barry Raison, John Kain, Warwick Pearson

Moved Mike Reddy, seconded Barry Raison, that the Minutes be accepted as a true record. Carried.

Barry Raison: David Menzel congratulated WVCC executive member, Barry Raison, who had recently been invited to become a part time member of the ACT Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

ACTPLA Community Facilities Planning Meeting: The Authority is convening a public meeting to address community facility needs in the Woden Valley on 6 August.

Guy Thurston outlined a number of proposed changes to take effect on a trial basis later in 2003:-

all night services at Woden Interchange to be condensed to a small number of platforms near the supervisor’s area to aid security
night time Area Services linking Woden and Weston using flexible routes to take patrons as close to their individual destinations as possible.

public address and lighting systems are being upgraded
views of youth and younger people being sought on what sort of interchange facilities they would like to see to overcome present concerns over safety and security at the interchange; Lend Lease, Police and community groups are contributing to this outreach efforts
activity is seen as the key to overcoming security problems and ACTION’s aim is to make the interchange precinct feel as safe and ‘normal’ as possible rather than have a high security presence
youth support seen as an issue for the whole community, not just an issue for ACTION in isolation.

Rod Baxter outlined present thinking on redevelopment design in the light of feedback and discussions held since the draft Master Plan was released in March 2003

envisages a redevelopment along the lines of the Christchurch model where the emphasis is on integrating the interchange with adjoining retail, car parking and community spaces to encourage activity in the interchange precincts
a partnership arrangement with adjoining private building owners offered the possibility of cost sharing and on-going maintenance and security tasks being performed by private parties as a condition of the partnership
key features of proposed facility include a waiting lounge with high levels of passive (public) surveillance and real time bus running information being made readily available within the retail precincts so that ACTION customers only need go to the interchange when their service is due to arrive
ideally, a funding bid to the Government should proceed towards the end of 2003.

David thanked Mike for organising the Council’s inaugural art show. The launch night had been very well received and the show was an admirable achievement; it may develop into an annual event.

Barry alerted the meeting to the exclusion of 3 Woden suburbs from the Molonglo Electorate – Chifley, Pearce and Torrens are currently included in the Brindabella Electorate. The current boundaries review required any objections to be lodged by 7 August; David thanked Barry for drafting the WVCC submission formally objecting to the exclusion of the 3 suburbs from Molonglo.

David reported on a strategic planning day organised by the Club’s consultants to review possible future directions for the Club.

Committee Members Present: