The NCA’s latest publicity stunt claiming they will explore National Heritage Listing for all of Canberra is confusing and inconsistent with their recent efforts to dramatically alter the Albert hall precinct.
It is unclear whether the proposal is to list all of Canberra, designated areas as defined under the National Capital Plan (NCP) or just the parliamentary triangle.
It is also unclear what the impact would be with respect to the process for proposed amendments to the National Capital Plan. If it applies to designated areas, then all the main roads in Canberra could be covered.
The NCA further confused the matter when they described on ABC radio that the heritage listing will cover the preserved open space described as “hills ridges and buffers” in the NCP.
This is complete hypocrisy because it was the NCA that went to great lengths to insist the route of the Gungahlin Drive Extension DID encroach on the very areas they are now saying ought to be heritage listed.
Another example is the NCA’s proposed changes to the Albert Hall and surrounding area. These have been disputed by the ACT Heritage Council and are now the subject of a series of community consultations following a public partial back-down by the NCA.
With these proposals now on the table what is the status of these consultations that the community is engaged with in good faith?
The Stanhope Government has indicated it’s support the Albert Hall to be listed on the National Heritage List but the NCA has remained silent on this.
This half-baked public announcement will cause significant confusion about not just the Albert Hall, but also the Griffin Legacy and leaves the NCA vulnerable to more accusations of it being yet another publicity stunt aimed at improving their poor image.
Contact: Meg Martin 0422 409 614
