Brickworks Ruling
This article was originally published as one of a series of letters in the Canberra times on August the 31st, 2015. Click here to read more.
The Land Development Agency’s backdown on the Yarralumla Brickworks development to a sensible height and density as noted in Meredith Clisby’s article “Brickworks development backdown” (August 28, p1) is extremely welcome. Height and density building reduction is now desperately needed in West Basin. West Basin is used by Canberrans and importantly by visitors to our national capital.
The LDA proposal for a dense mass of apartments has caused the loss of one of the most popular and lively tourist activities – the paddle boats and bike hire.
For many years this small enterprise has been used and valued by countless visiting school groups, tourists and Canberrans.
Arising from the West Basin development and most damaging to Canberra will be the impact on Commonwealth Avenue from City Hill to Capital Hill that is the most important stretch of avenue in the city. The proposed apartments will not only block views across West Basin to the mountains from the northern extent of Commonwealth Avenue but the apartments will be right in the face of those travelling on the avenue.