Andrew Barr

Major city student accommodation project approved

Submitted by Andrew Barr on 26 August 2010 - 11:05pm
I have approved, with conditions, a new $99 million student accommodation project at the Australian National University.
 
The five to seven storey building between Marcus Clarke and Kingsley streets will provide accommodation for more than 550 students, retail and commercial space, community facilities and additional city car parking. It is to be built to best practice residential standards.
 
“This is an extremely important project for Canberra. It will help provide more low-cost accommodation for students, something the Government believes is important to supporting our economy.
 
This planning approval means the project can get underway now, making it eligible for around $66 million in Commonwealth funding that will directly benefit the ACT. The project will help deliver a more vibrant city, more accommodation in the city centre and more retail and commercial space.
 
I have approved this project to provide more accommodation for students, to ensure our universities continue to be strong contributors to our economy, to ensure the people of the ACT can take advantage of Commonwealth funding and to provide certainty to the building industry and the thousands of Canberrans it employs.
 
I have imposed conditions on the approval requiring that the heritage and cultural significance of the ROCKS area be recognised and commemorated in the new development.
 
Under Section 158 of the Planning and Development Act I may approve an application if I consider it will respond to a major policy issue, have a substantial effect on achieving objectives of the Territory Plan and provide a substantial public benefit.
 
The development application has been assessed under ACT planning law by the fully independent ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA). 
 
I have made my decision to approve the project after examining all the documentation held by ACTPLA and on the independent and expert advice of the planning authority.
 
This is only the third occasion upon which I have used used the Ministerial ‘call-in’ powers available under the Planning and Development Act 2007.
»