NORTH CANBERRA COMMUNITY COUNCIL

COMMITTEE MEETING
7.30pm 17 February 2010
ACT Sports House, Hackett
Minutes

Present: Jochen Zeil, Richard Larson, Waltraud Pix, Laura Turnbull, Bruce Smith, Leon
Arundell

Visitors: Elliott Wood (Chronicle), Chronicle understudy, Kirsten Miller (EDO), James
Walker (Hackett residents)

Apologies: Mike Hettinger, Caroline Le Couteur, David Campbell, Catherine Doherty

Correspondence in:
Report on Draft Sustainable Energy Policy 2010 – 2020
Sustainable future workshop findings report
Sandford Street EIS scoping

Correspondence out:
NCCC submission on scoping EIS for Sandford Street extension
NCCC submission on Draft EIS Jerrabomberra Wetlands electrical infrastructure

Chairs Report
Jochen talked about general issues demanding attention in north Canberra in a general
sense, these being:
• North Canberra traffic
• The Majura Parkway and Sandford Street road infrastructure and environmental
impacts
• Management of the Canberra Nature Reserve
• ‘Nibbling away’ of land on the urban fringe for development and impact on the
nature reserve and residents quality of life

Australian Heritage Village

A lengthy discussion on the notice to approve DA200915605 ensued, punctuated as
required by legal advice from Kirsten Miller from the Environmental Defenders Office
(ACT).

At the end of the discussion a motion to the effect that ‘the NCCC appeal the decision to
approve DA200915605 through the ACT Administrative and Appeal Tribunal, and assist
the Watson Community Association Inc., Friends of Mount Majura and the Conservation
Council ACT Region Inc. to co-join with financial support from the NCCC’. The motion
was moved by Bruce Smith and seconded by Laura Turnbull. The committee approved
that an appeal be launched. The grounds for appeal will be discussed between the co-
joined parties.

Cabinet meets Community

Bruce Smith volunteered to draft a letter specifying topics for another informal forum
between ACT government ministers, shadow ministers, government advisors and
representatives from NCCC and the general community. Issues which could be raised
include traffic, urban encroachments on Canberra Nature Park, planning, and social
support.

Opportunities to support community projects

Leon Arundell asked if the NCCC would be prepared in principle to subsidise a prize for
footpath substitutes. A whole suburban street would be asked to prepare a design to make
their nature strips pedestrian friendly, and the best implementation would win a prize.
The NCCC committee thought that this deserved further consideration.

Administration
• Due to the potential in-availability of Jochen Zeil to chair meetings in March and
April, Richard Larson was appointed to act as Deputy Chair to chair meetings in his
absence. Bruce Smith will act as Secretary, being the current Deputy-Secretary.
• Laura Turnbull asked for permission from the current committee to resubmit the
Annual Return for 2007-2008. This was approved.
• Application $82 fee for the NCCC to join the Environmental Defenders Office was
approved.
• It was agreed that a web email address list should be available for committee to
email correspondence to members. The 2008-09 Secretary needs to advise.
• Web content management. Jonathon is doing this and the committee needs to commit
resources to assist.

Meeting closed at 9.30