Friends of Majura coordinator Waltraud Pix, Watson resident Gillian Helyer and Watson

Community Association chair Richard Larson are concerned the development of the Australian
Heritage Park will cause problems with traffic, living conditions and the environment. Mr Larson is
standing in front of an endangered yellow box gum which will be cleared for the development.

The City Chronicle Volume 29 No. 40 Tuesday October 13, 2009

Residents defeated on woodland

By Elliot Woods

WATSON residents have all but given up defending precious woodland and
buildings around the Australian Heritage Village.

A development application has been lodged with the ACT Planning and Land
Authority, almost certainly spelling the end for several hectares of native
bushland in north Watson. The village is set to be rezoned from leisure and
accommodation to residential with about 300 new homes established in the
coming years.

Watson Community Association chair Richard Larson said he and his fellow
residents were tired of fighting the development. Mr Larson said dramatic traffic
increases, the loss of about two hectares of native bushland and the demolition
of functional, attractive buildings had made the development a nightmare.

He said having read the application, none of his original fears had been allayed.
"The DA was all very predictable - none of the issues we raised have been
properly addressed and I've pretty much given up, everyone's just washed out on
the issue," Mr Larson said. "We could go to the environmental defenders office,
but what for? Unfortunately I really can't see that it would make any difference. "

When The Chronicle visited two hectares of the development on Monday, Mr

Larson pointed out just nine trees which would survive in that area. This is
despite the land being home to endangered species like the regent honeyeater
and yellow box gum, Mr Larson said.

Watson resident Gillian Helyar said now that the development application had
been submitted it was time to ensure the homes were built with the environment
in mind. Ms Helyar said solar had to be a priority. "Once the plans go through,
and things really get started that's too late, by that stage not only will we have
lost all this precious woodland but we will be looking at providing extra energy for
300 homes," Ms Helyar said. "There is just so much building going on around
here, right through to areas like Bonner, Crace and Ford – the environmental
concerns are major.”

Ms Helyar aid it was a shame the current buildings would not be utilised,
particularly considering the future growth of the area, shortage of shopping areas
and the high quality of the buildings.

"Those building are perfect for a pub, a meeting place or community building.
There is nothing like that around here - when Kenny starts growing and more
people are moving into Watson there will have to be something like that around,"
she said.

Friends of Majura coordinator Waltraud Pix said she was concerned developers
had not considered all the options available and that mistakes were going to be
made. She said while the environment was an obvious problem, her other major
concerns were based on the inevitable increase in traffic around her Hackett
home.

Ms Pix said what was already a huge problem would only be made worse by the
development in north Watson. "We are already struggling with traffic - so many
cars already use Antill Street to avoid the Federal Highway and this will become
far worse with the addition of 300 homes in the area," she said. "The problem is
well known to the government. This has been in the media for a long time now,
Antill Street is so flooded. It is for that reason that we are totally against the
development."

A spokesman for Mr Barr said his office would carefully consider all matters and
issues pertaining to the environment. "The DA is currently being notified by
ACTPLA and issues relating to traffic and environmental considerations, among
other matters, will be carefully considered by ACTPLA in independently
assessing the proposal against the requirements of the Planning & Development
Act 2007 and the Territory Plan," he said. "The DA has been referred as required
by legislation, to government entities for comment. This includes heritage, the
conservator of flora and fauna, the environment protection authority and the
Department of Territory and Municipal Services. "Any issues relating to traffic will
be considered with reference to TAMS."

Note: copyright of the material in this clipping resides with Fairfax Media. Usage
permitted in accordance with the Australian Copyright Act 1968, Section 42: Fair
dealing for purpose of reporting news. Source: The City Chronicle – 13 October 2009