The City Renewal Authority has released The City Precinct Renewal Program, a document that looks to guide the development of the spine of the Inner North over the next 30 years as the region experiences a population and dwelling boom.
City Renewal Precinct comprises a seven-kilometre-long, 420-hectare corridor that runs from West Basin in the south, up and around Northbourne Avenue/Federal Highway to Flemington Road.
The program recognised 10 ‘unique places’ within the precinct, those being: the Northbourne Corridor, Dickson, Macarthur Village, Haigh Park, and then City Hill, City West, Civic, City East and West Basin all within the city centre.
It incorporates portions of nine Inner North Canberra suburbs, and shares a strong interface with the Australian National University.
Using data from the ABS 2016 Census, the document predicts the City Precinct’s population to grow by 37,000 over 30 years; from 15,440 in 2016 to 52,539 by 2046 – representing a 340% increase.
It also predicts the total number of dwellings in the City Precinct to grow from 7,018 in 2016 to 26,000 by 2046, an increase of just under 19,000 dwellings or 270%.
In dwelling terms, growth is estimated at 450 extra dwellings per year to 2031 before increasing to 600 dwellings per year through to 2046.
The document has been guided by a number of previous ACT Government planning strategies, including: Dickson Group Centre Master Plan (2011); ACT Transport Strategy (2015); City and Gateway Urban Design Framework (2018); and the Haig Park Place Plan (2018).
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA said in a statement that The City Precinct Renewal Program further distils these into a detailed plan of action with a 30-year delivery horizon.
“It should be seen as a dynamic suite of documents that will be updated as priority projects evolve, or as the need arises to adapt and consider emerging trends and priorities,” he said.
Alongside infrastructure upgrades that will function to improve pedestrian, cycling and public transport by way of better ‘interconnectivity’, the document also outlines a number of initiatives focused around place building, community development, planning, engagement, improving public spaces, and encouraging small business and job growth in strategic locations.
These various initiatives, either specific to a ‘unique place’ or applicable to the precinct at large, have each been designated a priority on the short-, medium- or long-term horizon.
“Some of the actions have already been completed, some are underway and others are funded within the forward year budget cycle,” Mr Barr said.
“Other longer-term actions may be affected by the outcomes of current actions, decisions by government or other variables.”
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