All recent comments on applications from ACT Planning & Land Authority, ACT

The ACT Government needs to walk the talk and protect precious pockets of the environment around the ACT region. We are losing too much land to development and need to start prioritising the flora and fauna that we have left. "The reserve is one of the largest areas of endangered Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland and an integral part of a woodland corridor which stretches from Canberra across the border into NSW. It is also home to the threatened Perunga Grasshopper."

Callum Brae Nature Reserve is an area of peaceful bushland in the heart of Canberra. A crematorium next to it is a totally inappropriate project. Canberra has more than enough crematoriums. We need more bushland. Please reject this development application.

Callum Brae Nature Reserve is a unique place in the ACT protecting the Critically Endangered Yellow Box and Blakely's Red Gum Trees. We owe a duty of care to our natural environment to protect our dwindling native trees, birds and other wildlife. We should expand Callum Brae Nature Reserve rather than allow a commercial crematorium development on its border. ACT has two functioning crematoriums with another planned for Memorial Park in Hume, approximately 5 km from the proposed development. We do not need another crematorium which will destroy the natural environment adjoining the Callum Brae Nature Reserve. This development application should be rejected as unneeded and causing serious environmental damage. The land parcel should be added to the Callum Brae Nature Reserve so that it does not become an isolated wildlife "island". I am a frequent visitor to Callum Brae for physical and mental health breaks.

I am concerned as the proposed development of the crematorium is very close to the Dhulwa Mental Facility, within 500m. The patients at the facility will be exposed to any toxic aerosols from the crematorium. The safety of the patients at Dhulwa must be fully demonstrated before the development is allowed to proceed.

Absolutely Unnecessary & profiting from wildlife habitat (nothing new) which is home to several endangered bird species. This will be devastating to their survival. Please rethink this decision & not proceed.

This application should not proceed as it places commercial gain above environmental concerns. As an avid photographer this reserve has documentary evidence of vulnerable species such as swift parrots visiting the site. For this reason alone the application should not proceed. Add to this the erosion of green space for recreation due to urban expansion, which has been made even more stark during covid restrictions, where our green spaces allowed us to exercise and maintain mental health and the rejection of this application is imperative.

The site is important habitat for native wildlife, and recently was visited by the endangered Swift Parrot. Please demonstrate that development would adversely affect this woodland ecosystem before proceeding.

This area is part of a very important nature corridor that our wildlife need to survive, especially in often unpredictable and harsh climate like ours. There should not be development in such a scale that creates negative impacts to the area.

There does not need to be any more development in this area that will affect nature and wildlife.

Callum Brae was recently host to a group of Swift Parrots, which caused quite the stir due to their endangered status. This development will further threaten their existence to extinction. I oppose the development in this particular location.

Please stop giving up our land for profit making entities. We don't need another crematorium especially at the expense of destroying wildlife and local flora. It's ruining our bush capital and killing endangered wildlife.

I object to the development at Callum Brae as it will impact the natural environment and the birds and wildlife it supports. There is no valid reason to put such a facility in a place that many enjoy for its beauty. It has an important role to play in the ecology and keeping a balance of bush and open space is imperative in the future of our city.

My elderly father, a keen bush regenerator and walker recently moved to Red Hill so I only just became aware of Callum Brae. From act.gov: "The reserve is one of the largest areas of endangered Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland and an integral part of a woodland corridor which stretches from Canberra across the border into NSW. It is also home to the threatened Perunga Grasshopper."

We do not need a crematorium or chapel or any more development in this area. I oppose this proposal wholeheatedly.

It’s a crucial piece of the environment for animals already struggling with urban expansion.

This development at Callum Brae should not proceed if it risks local flora and fauna. I don’t want to see many creatures, including fish, frogs, birds and wallabies, and the flora that they rely on, pushed further from Canberra’s habitat. Reject this application.

This building has been nominated for inclusion in the ACT Heritage Register so it probably should be referred to ACT Heritage for advice. However the proposal does not involve alterations to the e xisting building.

We strongly object to this proposal of siting a crematorium on the corner of Mugga and Narrabundah Lane.
Dhulwa Mental Health Unit caters for up to 25 people with a disability, serious mental illness. They live there full-time for up to 4 years. Additionally, up to 30 staff are there 24/7 to support patients. The site was specifically selected to have a natural aspect, and reduced noise, although the fencing is abhorrent.
This crematorium proposal is less than 500 metres to Dhulwa, and could pump toxic aerosols which could be ingested by people already with metabolic illness. It would increase traffic and noise.
It would also give the further impression that people with a mental disability are treated somewhat like dogs in the pound (caged in near proximity), and their closest future journey is death. This is not an appropriate site to foster a hopeful recovery journey for those with mental illness.

These amended plans and the supplementary documentation fail to note that a maximum height limit of 25m applies, under National Capital Plan amendment 91 registered 4/4/2019, which imposes Special Requirements. The current proposal would breach that 25m maximum. The National Capital Plan does not appear to allow for any discretion in terms of how that provision is applied as the upper level structures shown on the elevations would be clearly visible from public street frontages, especially during winter. On statutory grounds of basic non-compliance I therefore object to this amendment on behalf of Dickson Residents Group.

Please fix the pavement on the north side of Cooyong St between Northbourne and the Cooyong Centre. It is treacherous from roots of Plain trees pushing up pavers, and I have recently broken my rt arm along that stretch with much pain and some financial disbenefit in consequence. Though I am a senior citizen I believe ANYONE could fall along that stretch! I have reported to Fix My Street, but the Council needs to check that they do fix the pavement post haste!

Do the Units 2-7 get natural lighting, including the bathrooms etc? Is most of the lighting artificial? Does the plot ratio of 79% include the hard surfaces such as paths and driveway?

It is an incredible design effort to get 8 3-bedroom units on just over 1300 sqm.

Regards

Hello,

I moved into Darwinia Tce Rivett over Xmas, on a defence posting.

I recently was informed of the proposed works Ref No 202037393. I realise that the planning alerts and comments has closed.

Please tell me that you are including a foot path link to Darwinia Terrace and Hindmarsh Roads from the hub.

I have seen a blind person (Alex) regularly trying to get to this bus hub on numerous occasions. He has to either walk along Darwinia Terrace in the gutter (and run the risk of getting killed by a car), walk down to the Hindmarsh/Darwinia Terrace and take an almost leap of faith to get across the road, or, get lost in the grass field because there is no paths.

I have also seen on numerous occasions a quadriplegic (Ian) drive his chair on the road for the same reasons.

I’m at a loss as to how neither of these individuals have not been killed and their stories of close shaves are just plain scary.

Has the Council and ACT Planning & Land Authority thought to connect the new hub to the foot path network?

If not, I believe that it should. Someone has a duty of care for these vulnerable individuals and others like them in the community.

Happy to discuss and/or meet with someone to discuss the observation further.

Kindest regards,

I seriously think a better position for it would be over near the servo opposite Macca's

This is very badly planned. There has been very little consideration to traffic flow. Already on the weekend getting in and out of aldi carpark is very congested and getting into domino's and getting into Woolworths. This is likely to cause a line up right past the roundabout on Box Hill Avenue and Balcombe Street. Have you seen KFC at Phillip in Woden? Same issues where they have not thought at all about the impact of a drive through and resulting traffic chaos on Botany Street and into Hindmarsh drive!!