ACT government unveils plans to redevelop Canberra's inner south

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It's one of the oldest parts of Canberra and is now set to be transformed and become part of a major housing and transport hub. The causeway in Canberra's south could soon be home to more than a thousand new apartments and units.

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00:00 Tucked away behind Canberra's railway station, between the Kingston foreshore and the Jerrabombera

00:08 wetlands, some residents of the causeway feel out of sight and out of mind.

00:12 We're hidden, we're in the back blocks, we're a little country town in a big city.

00:17 That's exactly how we all feel.

00:18 Surrounding the heritage listed community hall, there are several dozen homes built

00:23 in the 1970s and mostly owned by the ACT Government, which is now pointing to examples like the

00:29 Campbell 5 precinct for what the East Lake area might become.

00:34 We envisage that there will be up to 1200 to 1500 new homes that will be built in the

00:41 East Lake area around the causeway.

00:44 This is an opportunity to provide more affordable housing and more public housing.

00:49 The Government also wants to link up businesses and the CIT in the west of Fishwick, as well

00:54 as revamping and possibly moving the train station to create a transport hub.

00:59 They have heavy rail going into somewhere which really is disconnected.

01:03 It's actually one of the worst arrivals in a modern city I've ever seen.

01:06 But Fishwick businesses argue their proposal to move the station east of the industrial

01:11 suburb has been ignored.

01:13 There's a great opportunity then to coincide with what's happening in New South Wales where

01:17 there's 30,000 people coming across the border every day.

01:20 Their plan would have removed the heavy rail corridor in favour of putting light rail in.

01:26 We'd actually like to see both provided with a new station at Kingston.

01:31 Some causeway residents like Donna say they've been left out of consultation and fear the

01:36 community will be broken up.

01:38 I want to know what's going to happen with us.

01:40 I don't want to live out there in one of those suburbs where you don't know your neighbour

01:44 and you can't get help if you need it.

01:46 The Government insists feedback has been and will continue to be listened to, with a draft

01:51 plan open for consultation until April 5.

01:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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