West Row Park Refurbishment

West Row Park is to be upgraded thanks to a major investment by Canberra CBD Limited.

West Row Park is a delightful spot – a pocket park – in the heart of the city, opposite the West Row restaurant/entertainment precinct and can easily be overlooked at present.

This work will allow it to take its rightful place as part of the City Centre’s green space. When refurbished, the park will provide a calm, thoughtful space that reflects its centrepiece, the Inge King sculpture ‘Red and Blue’ which was added last year by the ACT Government.

The approximate $500,000 upgrade will include self-sustaining landscaping, seating, lighting and an improved staged area for the sculpture. The ACT Government also recognise the importance of the park and they are contributing $100,000 to the verge areas.

This area of the city has turned itself around over the past 10-15 years, thanks to significant investments by both the private and public sectors. It has a clear identity within the wider City Centre.

Most recently, the improved connections between the City, the Australian National University and the adjacent arts/cultural precinct, and investment in nearby New Acton have greatly increased the importance of West Row Park within the city. Work is expected to start on site in September and be completed by Christmas.

It will be a unique public space for the enjoyment of residents, visitors, business owners and workers in the City.

Events and Promotions

The 2009 TILT Busking Festival is gearing up once again to bombard the city with international, national and local buskers and comedians. Performances will take place throughout the city and this year a number of new events will be staged including:

• - the inclusion of a permanent ‘hub’ for the festival known as Busker Central with a themed performance area in Petrie Plaza ( near Merry-go-round);
• - additional performance activities and features including: Lunchtime Chillout Sessions (held each Wednesday in Hobart Place to help de-stress office workers), Sunday Youth Arena (with side show style amusements, busker mentoring classes and hands on activities), specialised  performance programs - ‘So You Think You Can Busk’ for school aged children, and ‘Born Again Buskers’ highlighting the talent of performers over the age of 60;
• - Many of the Tilt Performers will also appear at Australia’s premier floral festival as part of the new ‘Tilt at Floriade’ program;
• - The inaugural Tilt Comedy Festival being held over 8 nights in various city clubs and pubs;
• - special audience competition called ‘Bust the Busker’ being run through radio station FM104.7 where daily clues are given to the whereabouts of our signature Tilt performer of which a $250 cash prize will be given to the first person who finds our ‘Wazza’.Visit the Tilt Festival facebook .
Groovin in the City
In conjunction with the Chief Ministers Department we will be presenting the 2009 – 2010 ‘Groovin in the City’ program.
This entertainment program will expand this year extending to more locations around the City including strolling Buskers along Mort and Lonsdale Street. We will also have a week of marching band spectaculars in Veterans Park, rock bands in Glebe Park and entertainers outside The Boulevarde. Of course the festivities will still occur along City Walk at Petrie Plaza, Ainslie Avenue and Garema Place and the very popular Hobart Place. For a full list of the program log on to www.inthecitycanberra.com.au
Floriade in the City
The City comes alive in Spring, Canberra CBD Limited has again installed the large tulips to promote Floriade along with banners to add some colour around the City, however there are some exciting additions this year:

New City base for the University of Canberra

Forty-five first-year landscape architecture students from the University of Canberra moved into a City Centre design studio. The move is not permanent but may become an annual fixture. UC is in a partnership initiated by Canberra CBD Limited and also involving the ACT Government, the Canberra Institute of Technology and the private sector.

Canberra CBD Limited brokered the partnership to help beautify the City Centre to coincide with Floriade in the City and to give opportunities to UC students to work on a real life project in the city heart. Impetus for the partnership came from 21 planter pots located around the City. They are terrific pots but risked looking forlorn this spring however they are now blooming again thanks to the students and complementary work by graffiti artists and the large tulip sculptures.The project however is also an investment in people, the students have had hands-on experience of working within and for the City Centre. The community can see the results of the students’ work at the studio (the old Electric Shadow Bookshop on City Walk).

Andrew MacKenzie, course convenor, Landscape Architecture, UC, said: ‘This project gives our students an opportunity that every first-year landscape architecture dreams about but most don’t experience – in a studio environment that is spatially connected to a real-live project.’

He said the planters project has given the students the opportunity to work on the broad issues of the vitality and vibrancy of the CBD.

‘The passing public will be able to observe a growing exhibition. The students will be increasing their awareness of the social, pragmatic, political and commercial importance of generating a sense of place and identity through design.

‘The energy coming from this project is amazing,’ he said. ’Last week we were in The Boulevard writing poetry as part of understanding the urban space we are temporarily occupying. The interaction with the public was terrific. We are also working with Kurt and Dan, two of the graffiti artists responsible for some of the great murals around the City Centre. It’s pretty exciting and we heartily thank everyone who has made this possible. We think the designs for the pots will get people talking!’

Canberra CBD Limited would also like to thank others in the partnership: Jones Lang LaSalle for providing the ‘design studio’ space, CIT (horticultural students who planted out the pots) to the UC students’ design scheme and TAMS for ongoing maintenance and other support.

Be Business Smart

What is it?
BusinessSmart is a program to assist your business to put more efficient recycling and waste management into action. The program provides a step-by-step best practice guide to waste management as well as advice and assistance to establish your waste management system, conduct waste audits and educate staff. Annual BusinessSmart accreditation provides customer recognition of your waste management achievements.
Who can apply?
The BusinessSmart program is available to any business in the ACT. Depending on the nature of your business, the OfficeSmart program may be more appropriate for your situation.
How will OfficeSmart help my organisation?
Reducing the amount of waste your business sends to landfill can have direct benefits for business, staff and the bottom line. Here are some of the advantages:
• reduces costs – sending waste to a recycling centre is 50% cheaper than tipping at the landfill
• reduces impacts on the environment which can be very important to your staff
• help meet corporate environmental commitments
• provides customer recognition of your achievements through annual accreditation
• advertising of the BusinessSmart brand to the wider community.
How do I access it?
It costs nothing to participate and we provide the BusinessSmart 10-step guide, templates, advice and other resources to help you through every step of the process.
Call Canberra Connect: 132281
Email: – BusinessSmart@act.gov.au
www.environment.act.gov.au
 

City Improvements

The ACT Government have nearly completed their roll out of the new street furniture in City Walk and it is looking fabulous.

As you can see in the photo this year’s instalment of fairy lights is going into the trees in Petrie Plaza, Ainslie Ave and the remainder of City Walk. The new fairy lights will be turned on when the Chief Minister flicks the switch for the lights on the Christmas Tree in Civic Square – Friday 6 December.

News from the CBD Ranger

In the next few weeks Nicci will be distributing fridge magnets with the important phone numbers of Canberra Connect (132281) and Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000). We would urge you to notify Canberra Connect of any breakages, street lights not working etc as this is the fastest way of having the problem rectified. Similarly the AFP need to know about any instances of crime however small. Something that seems very insignificant like a new piece of graffiti, damaged property etc all adds up when the police are looking at trends in the City. The reported instances also assist the police in assigning officers to specific areas of the City.

the new push 2009

Architectural Design Competition for Emerging Architects and Graduates of Architecture in the ACT
The competition aims to provide opportunities to showcase work by emerging design professionals as a catalyst for their involvement in, and contribution to current discussions on the desired future for Canberra.Competition – a single stage anonymous design competition which addresses parts of the Inner City of Canberra, focusing on Northbourne Avenue, the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings and the immediate surrounding area. The competition invites entrants to investigate the opportunities for future development of the focus area, taking into consideration such factors as on-street activity and connectivity, quality of the public realm, appropriate future use of the area and the vitality of the City.

For more information and registration forms contact the Australian Institute of Architects (ACT Chapter): www.architecture.com.au
 

Membership of Canberra CBD Limited

So how do you join?

The membership application form can be found on our website www.inthecitycanberra.com.au

or email me lindastaite@canberracbdlimited.com.au 

Canberra CBD Limited Board

Two new Directors joined the Board at the recent AGM;

Karen Noad
Karen is the Property Manager of Canberra Centre and has held that role for two years, she has a Diploma in Practice Management and a Diploma in Property (Real Estate). Previously Karen worked as Centre Manager at Westfield Woden, Chatswood Chase, Roselands and Argyle Mall and prior to the Centre Manager roles, in varying areas of shopping centre management at Tuggeranong Hyperdome, Westfield Belconnen and Westfield Miranda.

Before shopping centres, she worked as Practice Manager for medical specialists practices in Sydney. Karen was a Board Member of Goulburn Chamber of Commerce while managing Argyle Mall, a member of the Police & Community Task Force as well as the Community Harmony Round Table while managing Roselands Shopping Centre, and as Centre Manager of Chatswood Chase, she was involved in the Chamber’s Community Security Programme.

Frank Milner
Frank  is a property expert with 35 years of experience in all aspects of the industry. An independent consultant for more than 15 years covering every aspect from project management to capital markets, Frank has had a wide range of clients including some of Australia’s largest listed property trusts.

During 13 years of achievement with Lend Lease, Frank was responsible as Project or Development Manager for many major projects in the residential, industrial, retail and commercial sectors. Frank has also gained experience as Fund Manager for the listed Kern Property Fund with a $310m portfolio including regional and sub-regional shopping centres in NSW and Queensland, office buildings and a major hotel. As Property Asset Manager for the $200M direct property portfolio of Allianz Australia and Fund Manager, Property for Allianz Dresdner Asset Management he was responsible for the investment of $300M in Listed Property Securities.

Frank holds two degrees in Architecture from the University of New South Wales and is an Associate Member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

These Directors replaced Steven Flannery and Johnathan Efkarpidis who retired from the  Board at the AGM .

If you have any good ideas or would like to discuss any Canberra CBD Limited projects, here is how to contact us. Visit us at:
Industry House, Akuna Street (opposite the Myer entrance to the Canberra Centre), or

Contact us:

Office: 6162 4292
Linda Staite - 0406 376 756
info@canberracbdlimited.com.au
www.inthecitycanberra.com.au

Gnomes in the City

The Canberra East Rotary Club in conjunction with Floriade 2009 are encouraging all City businesses to get their Corporate Gnome entries in, for more details to the website.