$61m Canberra apartment complex stirs debate

A new development application for a $61m apartment complex in Canberra’s outskirts has stirred up debate about car reliance in the nation’s capital.

Artist impressions of a proposed $61m apartment development in Casey. Picture: Supplied

An application for a $61 million apartment complex in Canberra’s outer north is stirring debate about car reliance in the Nation’s Capital.

The plan to build 219 apartments at 18 Kingsland Pde Casey on the edge of Canberra’s Gungahlin region includes two 11-storey buildings and one nine-storey building.

The development would include two ground levels for commercial use and two levels of underground parking to provide 356 parking spaces.

The plans were logged by developers Jega and KG Capital who previously worked on the Casey Market Town development.

In a section of the Development Application documents focused on parking and vehicular access, developers said “the project includes initiatives to minimise the demand for private vehicle ownership and use” in order to prevent traffic congestion in the area.

Artist impressions of a proposed $61m apartment development in Casey. Picture: Supplied

ACT Planning Minister Mick Gentleman made comments earlier this month suggesting the government would lower the minimum number of car parks in new developments as the city’s public transport network grew.

“But you need to have to have the opportunity for the transport corridor to be there,” Mr Gentleman told The Canberra Times. 

“You need to provide the transport so that people take the opportunity.”

This led to outcry from Liberal MLA Peter Cain who said Mr Gentleman’s comments were “so far removed from the everyday realities of most Canberrans that it borders on the delusional”.

“This entire notion rests upon having an effective and efficient public transport system,” he said.

“However, cuts to bus services and timetable disasters caused by this Labor-Greens government have ensured our public transport remains inadequate.

“While encouraging choice in lifestyle is commendable, the stark reality is that the overwhelming majority of Canberrans use, and need to use, motor vehicles.”

Artist impressions of a proposed $61m apartment development in Casey. Picture: Supplied

Gungahlin Community Council president Henley Samuel raised concerns over a lack of car parks in the Kingsland Pde development.

He said there was no evidence to suggest providing fewer car parks in the development would discourage car ownership, particularly in an outer suburb.

“Residents and guests will be forced to park on the street and in public car parks, as we already see in the Gungahlin Town Centre,” Mr Samuel said.

He said Casey and the surrounding area had experienced “considerable growth” but said roads, public transport, public amenities and community infrastructure had fallen behind.

Mr Samuel said the major roads in the area narrowed to one lane each way near the proposed development which led to “a high number of traffic-related incidents”.

Artist impressions of a proposed $61m apartment development in Casey. Picture: Supplied

He said there was typically congestion in the area during peak hour and school pick-up and drop-off times.

“It is anticipated this development will be approved in the very centre of this calamity, bringing an additional 200 units and 500 more residents to an area that is already under-serviced,” he said.

Public Transport Association Canberra chair Ryan Hemsley said the number of car parks allocated to the development was “well above the required number of basement parking spaces for its future residents.”

“It seems this project has been caught up in a scare campaign following (Minister Mick Gentleman’s) comments,” he said.

Artist impressions of a proposed $61m apartment development in Casey. Picture: Supplied

However Mr Hemsley raised concerns about access to reliable public transport in the outer suburb particularly following negative feedback about Canberra’s new bus timetable.

“We know people will use public transport if the services are good” he said.

“Unfortunately, current feedback on the latest network update has been very poor,” he said.

“We’ve received reports of buses running late, early, and sometimes not showing up at all.

“Hourly off peak services and even worse weekend services to places like Casey make it difficult for people to give up their cars.

“There’s been a big uptake of electric scooters which has made it easier for apartment dwellers to get around, but if the government is serious about getting people onto public transport, they need to make some serious service improvements.”

Greater Canberra Convenor Howard Maclean said he supported the reduction of minimum car space requirements.

“Many of these parking spots (in this development) will be long term vacant, as is the case for thousands of mandated carparking in expensive underground residential carparking.

“There simply aren't that many three car households that live in high density apartment developments, let alone the one or two bedroom units that make up about 70 percent of this development.

“If there are any residents parking on the street, they will be doing so while literally dozens of parks in the same building are vacant.

“We do not have good systems to match the very few people who need more parking than is provided in residential developments with the large number of people who have parking spots they don’t need.”

Canberrans can have their say on the development application until March 14.