Output 8.9 Urban Renewal
Overview
The directorate through the Office of the Coordinator General for Urban Renewal was responsible for the coordination and facilitation of a range of Government activities and projects across directorates. The directorate responded to emerging issues relating to the broad area of urban renewal, in line with the Government's Strategic Priorities. This included:
- the sale of Government assets under the Asset Recycling Initiative National Partnership Agreement, including the redevelopment of public housing and commercial assets in the Northbourne Corridor;
- management of major projects such as the Government's proposed City Office block;
- the establishment of the City Activation Team to develop and implement a City Action Plan;
- the management of the Direct Land Sales statutory process;
- identifying opportunities for more effective coordination between directorates for urban renewal activities, projects and policy development; and
- the coordination of the Community Clubs Taskforce.
The directorate also included the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce which supported the delivery of the Government's urban renewal priorities.
The public housing renewal program was intended to improve outcomes for public housing tenants in the ACT and support the renewal of Canberra's urban areas. 1,288 public housing dwellings will be constructed or purchased across Canberra to replace existing older properties and improve the overall quality of the public housing portfolio.
Oversight of the public housing renewal program was provided by the Public Housing Renewal Steering Committee, which included the Under Treasurer, the Director-General, Community Services Directorate and the Director-General, Economic Development.
Highlights
Against this output in 2015-16 the directorate:
- continued implementation of the Government's Office Accommodation Strategy, including a tender process for the Civic office and the Registration of Interest for the Dickson office, on the current Motor Vehicle Registry site;
- as part of the Asset Recycling Initiative (ARI) Agreement with the Commonwealth:
- completed the sale of the Currong and Allawah Apartments for $47 million and commenced demolition of Currong;
- completed the demolition of the Dickson flats with preservation of the nominated Heritage building;
- commenced the demolition of Owen Flats;
- commenced community engagement with Red Hill residents for the preparation of an Estate Development Plan for the Red Hill Public Housing precinct; and
- due diligence was started on all ARI sites in preparation for sale over the coming years;
- completed 15 direct sales of land under the Planning and Development Act 2007, being two concessional, six commercial and five executive leases, with one application not proceeding and one executive lease being finalised;
- facilitated the relocation of the OneSun Capital solar farm to Williamsdale as part of the Government's renewable energy policy implementation;
- established the City Activation Team to facilitate whole of government and private sector activities in the City Centre that focus on activation of the public realm;
- worked with clubs through the Community Clubs Taskforce to diversify their revenue opportunities;
- progressed business cases as part of the public housing renewal program, to secure funding in the 2016-17 Budget for the redevelopment and replacement of 864 public housing dwellings, in addition to the 352 dwellings funded in the 2015-16 Budget;
- continued, through the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce, to undertake construction on over 350 properties in Monash, Nicholls, Amaroo, Moncrieff and Coombs, and completed the construction of 20 public housing dwellings in Chisholm;
- commenced a process for purchasing suitable residential developments from the private sector for the public housing renewal program, securing over 150 dwellings;
- through the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce, worked with Housing ACT to support over 100 public housing tenants to move home; and
- undertook community engagement with residents and public housing tenants, including notices to tenants, information sessions for the community and regular web updates.
The directorate met one and exceeded one of its 2015-16 accountability targets against this output. The target (b) Public Housing Renewal Program was exceeded by 48 per cent with a total of 520 dwellings under contract. This includes 379 dwellings under construction or 'Design and Construct' contracts in Monash, Nicholls, Amaroo, Moncrieff, Coombs, Chisholm and Denman Prospect, 38 dwellings for which Housing ACT was in contract and reimbursed, and 103 dwellings under contract (either at exchange or settled) following purchase through the public housing renewal expression of interest process.
Future Direction
In 2016-17, the directorate will:
- complete the processes that support the Government Office Accommodation Strategy;
- finalise the sales strategy for the remaining sites under the ARI program;
- sell the Northbourne East and West Precincts, Dame Pattie Menzies House and the Dickson Motor Vehicle Registry;
- continue to identify and implement opportunities to activate public realm spaces in the City and develop a strategy for the way in which public spaces in the City can be better utilised;
- commence the development of the Haig Park Master Plan;
- continue to work across government to achieve superior urban renewal outcomes;
- finalise construction of properties already underway and commence design and construction on newly identified sites as part of the public housing renewal program;
- continue to purchase suitable private residential developments to contribute to the public housing renewal program through the established Expression of Interest process; and
- through the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce, work with Housing ACT to ensure all public housing tenants affected by the public housing renewal program are supported to move home.
For further information contact:
Ben Ponton
Deputy Director-General
Land Development and Corporate Division
+61 2 6205 7346
Ben.Ponton@act.gov.au
