Locals fight back against planning changes for Mbark village at Canberra golf club

Developer Mbark’s plan to build a retirement village at Canberra’s Federal Golf Club has met with community pushback, as a local residents’ group seeks to have the planning changes that would enable it rejected. Garran Residents Association has argued that Draft Territory Plan Variation 384 (DV384), the planning change allowing the village at the Red Hill golf course, was made without majority support, and the 125-unit development poses a risk to endangered species such as the Gang Gang cockatoo.

“DV384 is the result of a series of actions taken in direct contradiction to the wishes of the residents of Garran, and the stated resolution of the Legislative Assembly,” the group wrote in its submission, as reported by Riotact. “DV384 is a direct threat to the habitat of endangered species known to reside in the proposed development footprint. And DV384 is an affront to the concept to fair governance, effectively gifting land dedicated to community recreation to a private business.”

Adam Somerville, Managing Director of Mbark (pictured), told The Weekly SOURCE that DV384, currently on public exhibition, was the result of a “very thorough planning process” that highlighted the need for a retirement village to support the local ageing population.

“The Integrated Plan was widely consulted on by government and has full support from a number of community groups and members of the local community who see great benefit in the conservation outcomes available and who valued the ongoing role of the Golf Club in maintaining the green open space. “The proposed retirement village has been the subject of both Commonwealth and ACT Government environmental assessments, demonstrating a capability to deliver the village without having a significant impact on local biodiversity,” he said.