| MASTER PLAN
Woden Town Centre Master Plan - Background
Woden Town Centre (WTC) Stakeholder and Community Brief
Prepared by Purdon Associates Pty Ltd,
consultants to ACT Planning and Land Management (PALM). Sep 2001.
purpose to provide input to a new Master Plan for Woden Town Centre and reflecting the views of stakeholders and community interests
components of the study
|
1. Consultation with key stakeholders |
2. Survey of households |
3. Safety audit of Woden Town Centre |
|
|
|
|
How
Were
Views
Obtained? |
Informal discussions with government, private and community groups |
Mail out to 2300 households in Woden and Weston Creek.
Voluntary participation at key points (eg Library)
|
Walkabouts by 47 people |
Who
Was
Consulted? |
Major “landowners”.
Traders.
ACT Government agencies.
Resident associations.
Community service providers.
Public servants.
Young & old people.
Woden Valley Community Council. |
Survey distributed to 10% of households in Woden Valley and Weston Creek.
Survey also made available at
- Woden Library
- Woden Plaza
- Woden Youth Centre.
605 people responded to survey |
Groups representing
- office workers,
- young people
- and older people.
|
The Consultations
- Informal group discussions
- Considered the strengths, weaknesses and future directions for WTC
Strengths
- New Corinna Street restaurant area
- The variety of activities available
- The good arterial road system
- The presence of the entertainment precinct
Weaknesses
- Transport aspects
- condition of ACTION bus interchange
- lack of appropriate parking
- traffic congestion (eg new Corinna St arrangements)
- poor pedestrian access
- Threats to personal safety
- Under-utilisation of open spaces
- Atmosphere of Town Square
- Image of the Centre
Visions of the Future WTC
- Improved bus interchange
- Development of a more useful and attractive Town Square
- Improved parking and traffic arrangements
- Residential development within WTC
- Great focus on the needs of younger and older people.
What is WTC?
Map Community survey
It indicated………….
- A strong level of community interest in the future of the Woden Town Centre
- WTC is liked and highly valued
- Regarded as a focal point for comparison shopping
- For a large proportion of residents, WTC is a focal point for community and cultural activities and entertainment
- While shopping and commercial areas are well used, open parks, recreation and entertainment areas are considerably under used.
More detailed findings >>>>>>>>>>
Precinct |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
|
|
|
Shopping and
Commercial areas |
High level of access and amenity by day.
A quality environment.
|
These strengths not maintained in the evening. |
Eastern parks area |
Important recreational facility |
|
Northern entertainment and recreation areas |
Accessible.
Important community amenities. |
|
All areas |
|
Litter control inadequate, particularly in Town Square, open spaces, car parks and Bus Interchange
|
All areas |
|
Graffiti – particularly around Bus Interchange.
|
All areas |
|
Landscaping and vegetation maintenance needing attention.
|
All areas |
|
Personal security – important for women, particularly in the evening.
|
|
|
|
Safety Audit
- Safe during day, not at night
- Poor visibility in many locations, particularly at night
- High number of hidden places eg alleys, stairways, stormwater drain, bushes
- Lack of places to go for assistance when Plaza closed
- Lack of adequate signage, public telephones, toilets
- Need to improve maintenance in most areas, especially in regard to litter and graffiti
- BUS INTERCHANGE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN
ISSUES which should be addressed
in the new Master Plan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
- Developing a WTC image which articulates the community’s aspirations
- Increasing the connectivity between the disparate parts of WTC
- Reducing the focus on the Plaza
- Increase the liveliness of the Centre at all times …. Residential development?
- Improve public safety and perceptions of safety
- Provide an arts and cultural focus
- Introduce more accessible open spaces
|
