National Capital Plan - Amendment No. 26 - Acton House

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NATIONAL CAPITAL AUTHORITY

Australian Capital Territory

(Planning and Land Management) Act 1988

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLAN

AMENDMENT 26

ACTON HOUSE

May 1999

 

AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL PLAN

AMENDMENT 26 (ACTON HOUSE)

Amend the National Capital Plan as follows:

1. Amend Figure 10 in Part One of the National Capital Plan by -

1.1 altering the Predominant Land Use Category that applies to Section 24 City from "Social/Community/Educational" to "Residential";

1.2 deleting the words "Social/Community/Educational" from the legend of Predominant Land Uses; and

1.3 deleting notation "F" from the face of the figure and replacing it with notation "D" which will then apply to Sections 7, 8 & 24 City.

Figure 10, amended in accordance with 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 herein, is as set out at Attachment A.

2. Amend the conditions on the double page following Figure 10 in Part One of the National Capital Plan by -

2.1 deleting section "D" with all the provisions contained in that section;

2.2 altering the heading of section "F" from "F - City Sections 7 & 8" to "D - City Sections 7, 8 & 24";

2.3 under "Other land uses permitted" in Land Use Policy for section D, as altered, amend the references to "Bank" and "Co-operative society" to read as follows:

 Bank and Co-operative society for Sections 7 & 8

 Bank and Co-operative society (ancillary to primary use) for Section 24

2.4 adding a new condition under "Development Guidelines" within the newly altered section "D" which states:

Development on Section 24 City shall be in accordance with the recommendations of a Conservation Management Plan agreed to by the Australian Heritage Commission.

The double page following Figure 10, amended in accordance with 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 herein, is as set out at Attachment B.

Attachment A

Figure 10

The Central National Area (City)

 

A City

Section 34

Objectives:

The objectives of the land use policy for the public open space areas are to:

 develop attractive parks in Civic for the use of workers, shoppers visitors and residents

 Provide parks as a venue for recreation to increase the enjoyment of the facilities of Civic

 Provide areas for rest and relaxation

 Provide 'Green Spaces' as a relief in, and element of, the centre structure

 Facilitate the construction of convenient and attractive pedestrian routes.

Land Use Policy

The primary land use for Precinct A is:

 Park

Limited uses complementary and ancillary to the primary use will be considered.

B City

Sections 63, 18 & 19

Objectives

The main objectives of the land use policy for this precinct are to:

 Provide land for administrative uses

 Provides for a wider range of uses to add diversity to Civic, including hotels, tourist and entertainment facilities, private sector offices, offices and carparks.

Land Use Policy

The primary land use for precinct B is:

 Administrative Use.

Other land uses permitted are:

 Retail

 Cafe, bar restaurant

 Personal service

 Office

 Casino

 Tourist facility

 Indoor recreation facility

 Cultural facility

 Social/Community facility

 Health centre

 Place of assembly

 Education establishment

 Scientific Research Establishment

 Community protection facility

 Residential

 Hotel

 Motel

 Park

 Carpark

Development Guidelines

 High quality development with a low building form in a landscape setting

 Development opposite the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings must reflect the historical character of those buildings

 Maximum building height:

- Vernon Circle (3 storeys)

- London Circuit (6 storeys)

C City

Sections 10 (Part), 37 & 62

Objective

The main objective of the land use policy for the tourist and recreation area is to ensure that the area in Civic is reserved for the provision of commercial recreation facilities to serve the health, fitness and leisure needs of the workforce, Canberra residents, tourists and visitors to the Centre. Complementary to this main objective it is also intended that the area accommodate tourist facilities and accommodation which can benefit from a location close to the Convention Centre and that a limited amount of office development may be allowed.

Land Use Policy

The primary land uses for Precinct C are:

 Tourist facility

 Indoor recreation facility

 Outdoor recreation facility but a publicly accessible Olympic Pool complex must be included.

Other land uses permitted are:

 Office (Part Section 10 only), up to a maximum gross floor area of 35,000m2 inclusive of offices associated with any Administrative uses

 Retail (ancillary to primary use)

 Cafe, bar, restaurant.

 Personal service establishment

 Club

 Cultural facility

 Social/Community facility

 Place of assembly

 Administrative uses (Section 10 only)

 Community protection facility

 Residential

 Hotel

 Motel

 Park

 Public utility

 Carpark

Redevelopment proposals must always ensure that floodwater is catered for as the south-east corner of the precinct is subject to flooding by overland stormwater flow, and in rare circumstances possibly by Lake Burley Griffin.

Development and redevelopment shall accord with the development conditions set out at Appendix S.

D City

Sections 7, 8 & 24

Objectives

The objective of the land use policy for the area is to promote a range of intensive residential uses so that Civic can benefit from increased use of services at evening and weekends.

The precinct is close to leisure, recreation, retailing and business facilities and services offered by Civic and is close to the recreational opportunities provided by the lake.

Land Use Policy

The primary land uses permitted in Precinct D are:

 Residential

 Hotel

 Motel

Other land uses permitted are:

 Retail (ancillary to primary use)

 Cafe, bar, restaurant

 Bank and Co-operative society for Sections 7 & 8

 Bank and Co-operative society (ancillary to primary use) for Section 24

 Personal service establishment

 Office (ancillary to primary use)

 Club

 Tourist facility

 Indoor recreation facility

 Cultural facility

 Social/Community facility

 Place of assembly

 Park

 Carpark

Development Guidelines

 Development to reflect importance of Edinburgh Avenue and London Circuit frontages.

 Development on Section 24 City shall be in accordance with the recommendations of the Conservation Management Plan for the site agreed to by the Australian Heritage Commission.

 Developments in Section 6 City to abut the front property boundary on London Circuit.

E City

Section 10

Blocks 14 & 15

Objectives

The objectives of the land use policy for the office areas are to:

 Maintain Civic as the main metropolitan office employment location

 Group employment opportunities in close support of retail areas.

Land Use Policy

The primary land use for Precinct E is:

 Office

Other land uses permitted are:

 Retail

 Cafe, bar, restaurant

 Bank

 Co-operative society

 Personal services establishment

 Consulting rooms

 Club

 Indoor recreation facility

 Cultural facility

 Social/Community facility

 Church use

 Health care

 Place of assembly

 Administrative use

 Community protection facility

 Residential

 Hotel

 Motel

 Passenger transport facility

 Carpark

Design and Siting Conditions apply to all blocks (Refer to Appendix H)

*Townscape Conditions apply to all blocks (Refer to Appendix

 

Overview

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Parliament enacted the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 to address the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to planning and land management within the ACT, particularly in the National Capital area. This legislation aimed to provide a framework that balances the preservation of heritage and natural environments with the needs for urban development, ensuring that the growth of the capital city aligns with its unique character and functionality. The National Capital Plan Amendment 26, concerning Acton House, was introduced to refine and update the land use categories and policies within the National Capital Plan, specifically focusing on altering the predominant land use category for certain sections from "Social/Community/Educational" to "Residential" and modifying the conditions for development to better reflect the desired urban environment and heritage considerations. The policy objective of these amendments was to facilitate development that is in harmony with the surrounding urban fabric, while also ensuring that heritage sites are appropriately managed and preserved.

Scope and Application

The National Capital (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, as amended by the National Capital Plan Amendment 26 (Acton House) 1999, applies to the planning and land management within the Australian Capital Territory. The Act and its amendments concern the National Capital Plan, which governs the use of land and the development of property in the territory. The specific amendment here alters the land use categories and conditions in certain sections of the city, particularly affecting Section 24 City. This amendment changes the predominant land use category from "Social/Community/Educational" to "Residential" and updates the conditions to align with this new category. The amendment also involves changes to the figure and legend of predominant land uses, ensuring clarity and consistency within the National Capital Plan. Furthermore, the amendment introduces new conditions regarding development on Section 24 City, mandating that it must comply with the recommendations of a Conservation Management Plan agreed upon by the Australian Heritage Commission. These amendments are designed to promote residential use while ensuring that development aligns with heritage and conservation guidelines.

Key Provisions

The National Capital Plan Amendment 26 (Acton House) amends the National Capital Plan by altering the predominant land use categories and conditions related to certain sections of the City. Specifically, it changes the land use category for Section 24 from "Social/Community/Educational" to "Residential" (section 1). This amendment also involves updating Figure 10 in Part One of the National Capital Plan by altering the legend of Predominant Land Uses and replacing notation "F" with "D" for Sections 7, 8, and 24 City (section 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3). Additionally, the conditions following Figure 10 are amended by deleting section "D" and altering the heading of section "F" to "D" to reflect the new land use category for City Sections 7, 8, and 24 (section 2.1 and 2.2). The amendment further modifies the permitted land uses under section D by specifying different conditions for Sections 7 & 8 and Section 24 regarding banks and co-operative societies (section 2.3). Finally, it adds a new condition under "Development Guidelines" for Section 24 City, requiring development to comply with a Conservation Management Plan agreed upon by the Australian Heritage Commission (section 2.4). The obligations imposed by this amendment require that any development in Section 24 City adhere to the recommendations of a Conservation Management Plan approved by the Australian Heritage Commission. This ensures that any new developments in this area respect and integrate with the historical and cultural significance of the site. Furthermore, the amendment mandates that land use in Sections 7, 8, and 24 City primarily be residential, with specific provisions for ancillary uses such as retail, cafes, bars, restaurants, and personal service establishments. These provisions aim to maintain the character and functionality of the Civic area while promoting residential growth and supporting evening and weekend activities. Breaching the provisions of this amendment could result in various consequences. Under Australian Capital Territory laws, unauthorised development or land use that does not comply with the National Capital Plan and its amendments can lead to enforcement actions. This may include fines, compulsory acquisition of the land, or orders to demolish non-compliant structures. The penalties for such breaches are determined by the specific provisions of the planning laws in place at the time of the offence, which could include substantial fines and potential criminal charges for serious or repeated violations. Compliance with the Conservation Management Plan is also critical, as failure to do so may result in legal actions against the developer or landowner for not adhering to the agreed terms with the Australian Heritage Commission.

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