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| WVCC CONCERNS Proposed St Andrews facility The ACT's urgent need to increase the number of aged care beds is one of the most pressing issues for many older citizens in the Woden Valley . But there are also broader community concerns that judicious land use planning should not be compromised to achieve quick-fix siting solutions for aged care facility developments. The Council's executive has assessed two proposed aged care facility proposals for Woden. One involves a major grant of land in Hughes in the Yarra Glen ‘green belt', presently designated “Open Space” under the Territory Plan. The second is being proposed appropriately on “Community Use” land in Garran which has been purchased by the service providers. The Hughes proposal would see an extension of the existing aged care facility between Groom St and Yarra Glen. While serving a worthy purpose, and not being formally opposed to by WVCC, it raises concerns over the direction of land use planning in Canberra . Specifically, why isn't the facility being constructed on Community Use land rather than depleting Woden's Open Space land? – a limited resource which is fundamental to Canberra 's garden city setting. And should such community assets be given away for the benefit of a relative few? This is not to deny a role for government in providing financial aid for building aged care facilities. But in the interests of transparency and fairness, this should take the form of direct financial support on a non-discriminatory basis. To compromise Canberra 's urban amenity and planning system by giving away Open Space land to selected aged care facility developers is not in the public interest. John Kain Secretary, Woden Valley Community Council Inc |