Article submitted by MLA Suzzanne Orr on the proposed Gungahlin Town Centre Linear Park
Over the past few months I have been talking to Gungahlin residents about the new linear park coming to the Gungahlin Town Centre.
The new park will run from Anthony Rolfe Avenue to the Mulanggari Grasslands and is part of the Gungahlin Town Centre East development which provides for housing, commercial, business and community development and will undoubtedly further enliven the Town Centre.
The linear park will be a central feature of the development establishing a public thoroughfare, connecting people to homes, shops, work, community facilities and public open space.
I know Gungahlin residents love their Town Centre. However, the community has made it clear to me if there was one thing they could change it would be to have more greenspaces.
With this in mind I approached the Minister for Suburban Development Yvette Berry and asked her if this linear park could be a little bit different – I asked her if this park, the linear park, could specifically have more greenery in it. To help my cause I started a survey and asked Gungahlin residents to tell me what they wanted in their park. On Tuesday I updated the Legislative Assembly on the feedback I have received.
Over 80% of respondents indicated that they would like a space to go and spend time with their friends and family. When asked what they’d like to see included in the new park, one theme came through louder than all others – people want a safe park with lots of play opportunities for kids of all ages with seating for parents.
People also overwhelmingly said they would like a space that is green and full of as much nature as possible. In fact 95% of people said it was important there is lots of shade in the park and 93% of people said they would love a grassed area.
Another theme that came out strongly in the responses was the hope the new park would be an active space providing lots of opportunities for the Gungahlin community to come together.
I wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to the consultation process so far. I know a number of MyGungahlin readers have participated and we received lots of great feedback – including some wonderful drawings from the kids at YMCA Gungahlin!
I now look forward to sharing this feedback with the University of Canberra landscape architecture students who will be using it to develop concept designs for the park as part of their design studio. Last year, UC students worked with me on the Giralang Community Park, and I am excited to see what our budding young landscape architects will suggest for the site.
I will shortly be writing to the Minister and providing her with a summary of all the views residents have shared with me.
I hope that the community collaboration that has gone into this project will allow the new park to be a space that reflects the community as best as possible.
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