home
about the YRA
why the YRA
planning in Yarralumla
issues
links

ISSUES - YARRALUMLA RECREATION HUB

• More information from the National Capital Authority

January 2009

The YRA sent a response to the NCA on 21 January 2009, following the community meeting on 8 December 2008. This response is generally supportive of the NCA proposals.

December 2008

The National Capital Authority held a meeting with the Yarralumla community to display the draft final Recreation Hub Masterplan and obtain feedback. The meeting was held on 8 December 2008 at the YMCA Sailing Club between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

August 2008

The YRA sought the views of the Yarralumla community via a display at the Yarralumla shopping centre on 26 July 2008. Based on these views, resident's views expressed at the public meeting held on 25 June and other written and oral submissions, the YRA sent a response to the National Capital Authority in August 2008.

June 2008

About 130 people – residents, lake users, and interested parties – attended the National Capital Authority’s information session on the Yarralumla Bay Recreation Hub master plan at the YMCA Sailing Club on 25 June. It was a well-conducted meeting, chaired by Claire Middleton, with time for questions and comments from the floor on issues such as Alexandrina Drive, proposed wetlands and pond to replace the stormwater drain, the bike path, accommodation, cafes, boardwalk, boat rigging facilities, environmental concerns including climate change, traffic and noise. Not a great many answers were provided at this stage by the consultant HBO+EMTB. But Todd Rohl of the NCA gave assurances that a further public meeting would be held to discuss a preferred option before the Authority considers it.
No timetable has yet been fixed. However, people have until Friday 29 August to comment on the three options presented to the meeting – or to raise any other matter concerning the area, including a wish to maintain Yarralumla Bay as is. The three options can be seen at the NCA web site. Written submissions can be made to Ms Christine Ognjenovic at the NCA, GPO Box 373, Canberra ACT, or through the YRA web site

Representatives of the NCA at the meeting made it clear that aspects of the various options presented are completely interchangeable, and would welcome input from the community about such changes or additions or about any detail of the options. In an informal straw poll the majority of people present at the meeting indicated by a show of hands that they preferred Option B of the three options presented by the consultants. However the YRA has not formed an opinion about any of the options presented and will be developing a submission. We urge you to consider the options and express your opinion to us or to the NCA at the addresses above.
Key questions to be resolved from the various Options include:
2
- Alexandrina Drive. Should it be realigned somewhat to the south to remove the hairpin bend near Hopetoun Circuit, but maintaining a curve to prevent it becoming a speedway? The meeting was told there have been 23 accidents in the past five years ¡V none involving pedestrians, with 10 single vehicles running off the road.

- Cycle path. Should it be relocated on the lake side of the road, to remove the two existing crossings over Alexandrina Drive?

- Parking. Should there be increased parking at the service loop on the western side of the bay, and some new parking to assist boat-launchers behind the YMCA and Girls Grammar sites on the lake side of the realigned road, with overflow parking?

- Drain. Should there be a form of wetland and ¡¥smart pond¡¦ following the course of the existing drain between Schlich Street and Alexandrina Drive, to filter stormwater before entering the lake? Concerns about mosquito breeding were raised at the meeting and will be addressed by the consultant. Dr Kevin Frawley said stormwater was the main cause of pollution to the lake.

- Cafe. Should there be a new lease to include a cafe, restaurant, bike hire and/or other facilities possibly on the east side of the bay, near the Girls Grammar rowing club? Option C, which proposed some short term rowing accommodation and buildings of up to three storeys, attracted little support at the meeting. The consultant suggests some opening up of the view towards Black Mountain.

- Pedestrian. Should there be a pedestrian pathway around the foreshore from the beach, and a boardwalk with pontoons and perhaps a ferry terminal on the Yarralumla Bay?

- Open space. One of the consultants, Mr Geoff Baker, gave assurances that the open recreation land near Schlich and Novar Streets was not proposed for development. And the areas of grassland inhabited by the endangered sun moth on the east and west sides of the drain would be protected.

COSTS. Mr Rohl said that the options had not yet been costed. This would be done when a preferred option had been developed. As to who would pay, he said the NCA was currently responsible for works around the lake edge. The remainder of the project would have to be in collaboration with the ACT Government.

As mentioned, people have until 29 August to make comments on any of the ideas as the consultant develops the preferred option. Cultural and Environmental Impact Statements will be prepared, and further discussions held with users on boat rigging and launching needs. It is anticipated the next public meeting to discuss specific proposals in the preferred option will be held later this year.

March 2008

The Federal Government's announcement of budget and staff cuts to the National Capital Authority, and the establishment of a Parliamentary inquiry, has affected the timing of the Yarralumla Bay Recreation Hub project. Todd Rohl, Managing Director of Planning and Urban Design, has advised that the second round of community consultation is not now expected to occur until May 2008. The first public meeting was at the YMCA Sailing Club last December 2007.
The officer in charge was among the 33 staff members made redundant by the NCA cuts, and Mr Rohl is interim manager of the Hub project. It is understood that several options will be put forward by the consultants HBO+EMTB.

The YRA has sent a letter, essentially restating the main points of the submission made last year. There are varying views on the possible relocation of Alexandrina Drive near Yarralumla Bay. But if it were to be resited, most people want the curves maintained to prevent the road becoming a speedway.

December 2007

More than 70 people attended the Yarralumla Bay Recreation Hub information session on 11 December 2007, held by the National Capital Authority Yarralumla Bay Recreation Hub consultants HBO+EMTB, to gather information and ideas from the community for consideration in the master plan. Some were disappointed specific proposals were not put forward for discussion, but it was a preliminary meeting to gather community views. It was clear those present wanted Yarralumla Bay retained essentially for active and passive recreation, and do not want inappropriate clubs and bars. There were concerns that Alexandrina Drive would become a speedway if the curves were straightened during any realignment. Traffic, parking, pollution, noise and the need to maintain an open space corridor into the suburb were also canvassed. Another meeting will be called around March when firm ideas will be presented for debate. The Recreation Hub includes the lake foreshore and open land from Hopetoun Circuit to Banks Street, including the boatsheds.

February 2007

The National Capital Authority presented ideas to the YRA in September 2006 about a Recreation Hub (PDF 4.12Mb) centered around Yarralumla Bay and Orana Bay and the existing rowing and sailing clubs. The YRA made a submission (PDF 88Kb) to the NCA in October 2006. In December 2006, the YRA were advised by the NCA that tenders would be called in February 2007 for three organisations to prepare preliminary sketch plans, which will also consider the YRA submission, the Lake Users Group submission and the requirements of the National Capital Plan.

The winning organisation (Hoadley Budge Olphert plus Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs) has been engaged to prepare the draft Master Plan for the area. The Brief can be downloaded here (3.5Mb) .