Sydney and Melbourne buildings study
A major study on the Sydney and Melbourne buildings, looking at short, medium and long term strategies for the these two iconic Canberra buildings, is progressing.
The study, by the ACT Government, is being undertaken by the architectural practice Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. The leading architectural firm has an Australia-wide reputation for design excellence and a track record of major community consultation projects. It has a special interest in public spaces or public use and the relationship of buildings to the public domain of a city.
Peter Tonkin said in their submission “The proposed study will provide the framework to guide the ongoing life of these twin Canberra icons into the future. To succeed it must not only faithfully examine the constraints of the buildings – physical, legislative and cultural, but propose viable visions for their future, with imagination, innovation and pragmatism. These well-loved pioneers deserve a genuinely productive future, not as museums, but as key players in the commercial heart of the Capital.”
The study is due for completion in August/September 2009.
Events and Promotions
The winter is a quiet time in terms of activity in the City. However there is much happening behind the scenes getting ready for another vibrant programme of activities in spring and summer. Following is a taste of things to come.
Entertainment
Canberra CBD Limited has a packed programme of entertainment in the City starting in September with Groovin in the City and finishing with a Canberra Festival programme in March.
Groovin in the City - The Chief Minister’s Department works with us to provide entertainment in various locations and with a variety of entertainers. The fun programme includes:
Moochin Mondays
Tappin Tuesdays
Worldy Wednesdays
Theatrical Thursdays
Funky Fridays
During Floriade Canberra CBD Limited will again present the Tilt Busking Festival. We will create ‘Buskers Central’, a stage area for the focus of day time activities in City Walk. Additionally, lunchtime circus workshops will happen all around the City, including City West and Braddon, and clubs and pubs will be encouraged to participate in a night-time busking Comedy Festival.
The Christmas Corale will feature school and community groups along with some professional singers entertaining the lunchtime shoppers, workers and just those who enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in the City.
Canberra Festival is an excellent time to explore the public perceptions of the City with a ‘what do you love about the City’ promotion. In conjunction with spectacular entertainment this promotional/advertising campaign will highlight the improvements in the City. This event will be a fore runner to the Centenary celebrations in 2013.
Christmas Lighting
Winter is the time to complete the fairy lights along City Walk, Petrie Plaza and Ainslie Ave. Without the leaves and spring pollen the lighting technicians can install the lights ready for Christmas 2009. When the Chief Minister flicks the switch on the 2009 City Christmas Tree in Civic Square the new installations will come to life.
The Christmas lighting is part of a four year plan, in 2010 further displays will be added to City West and in 2011 trees it will be Braddon’s turn to sparkle.
City Improvements
Our efforts, such as the summer flower baskets and regular cleaning of private land which forms a backdrop to the public places of the City Centre, have been noticed. We have received numerous unsolicited comments such as:
‘Personal congratulations to you and your team. From conversation with other colleagues and friends, I think my comment is the tip of the iceberg in terms of accolades. Yes, I had noticed the enhancements to the Sydney and Melbourne buildings - it does make a difference. At a time when hot and dry conditions have otherwise presented a bedraggled environment, your flowers and cleaning (and the fairy lights) have provided the perfect complement to our new and expanded retail developments and made Civic a much better place to work and shop in.’
Canberra CBD Limited will continue with its cleaning programme and adding improvements such as the fairy lighting and hanging flower baskets – things that are seen as part of the enriching the City Centre, and creating a clear point of difference for the City Centre – a ‘personality’ that is vibrant, inviting, safe and clean.
Equally exciting is that during 2009, Canberra CBD Limited is initiating some large scale capital works that will make permanent, long-term improvements to the City Centre .
Canberra CBD Limited will continue with its cleaning programme and adding improvements such as the fairy lighting and hanging flower baskets – things that are seen as part of the enriching the City Centre, and creating a clear point of difference for the City Centre – a ‘personality’ that is vibrant, inviting, safe and clean.
Equally exciting is that during 2009, Canberra CBD Limited is initiating some large scale capital works that will make permanent, long-term improvements to the City Centre.
West Row Park Refurbishment
West Row Park, in the heart of the city and opposite the West Row restaurant/entertainment precinct, is a small, relatively underused green space in the city.
Canberra CBD Limited is funding the most significant investment ever made in the park. It will involve self sustaining landscaping, seating, lighting and an improved staged area for the existing artwork. The park is an ideal project in which to invest the levy funds. This area of the city has been quietly but assuredly establishing its credentials within the city, with major investment over the past 10-15 years by the public and private sectors. Most recently, the improved connections between the City, the Australian National University and the adjacent arts/cultural precinct, as well as the investment in nearby New Acton, have greatly increased the importance of this delightful area.
Work on revitalising West Row Park is expected to be completed by December 2009. It will be a unique public space for the enjoyment of residents, visitors, business owners and workers in the City.
A contract for the refurbishment has been let to GHD, with its Canberra Landscape Architecture team leading the project. They have extensive experience in urban design projects. In their submission they state
‘GHD will ensure that the refurbishment of West Row Park enhances the city centre’s role as an active and vibrant hub where businesses and the community prosper. … As a public space it needs to perform well in terms of amenity, safety and environment to support the development and growth of the city centre.’
Murals
If you have not already seen the makeover pictured above, next time you are in the City Centre make sure you take a walk around Bunda Street to near Gus’ café and you will see what talented artists can do for the City Centre.
Canberra CBD limited has engaged artists to produce two murals for walls in the City. Bunda Street is a very busy area and in April a spectacular cafe scene was painted in the area next to Gus’ Cafe.
The Saraton building along the laneway from City Walk (adjoining East Row), a favourite place for the graffiti taggers, has also been transformed into a contemporary jungle and has become a talking point for the right reasons with City users.
Caged bin enclosures
Rubbish is not a very glamorous topic however it is one that affects all property owners in the City. Canberra CBD Limited is working with David Clarke Architects to design cages similar to those in Hobart Place. The cages replace the unsightly hoppers with multiple smaller bins and more regular collection. Working as part of the ACT Government’s ACT NOW Waste Network initiative, the cages will have recycling facilities and places for the and
bread crates.
Canberra CBD Limited is looking at a number of locations for the caged bins, including behind Centrepoint in Tocumwal Lane, and the areas along Riverside and Hillside Lanes and behind Bailey’s Arcade.
News from the CBD Ranger
Nicci Foulsham is the eyes and ears of Canberra CBD Limited in the City. Since joining the company she has focussed on cleaning issues and has had great success cleaning the central areas of the Sydney and Melbourne buildings. Bible Lane has been another areas that has been cleared of crates and pallets by Nicci’s persistence with the milk and bread companies and by working in conjunction with the TAMS Precinct Manager and the City Ranger.
Canberra CBD Limited will continue with its cleaning programme and adding improvements such as the fairy lighting and hanging flower baskets – things that are seen as part of the enriching the City Centre, and creating a clear point of difference for the City Centre – a ‘personality’ that is vibrant, inviting, safe and clean.
Equally exciting is that during 2009, Canberra CBD Limited is initiating some large scale capital works that will make permanent, long-term improvements to the City Centre .
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Research
Canberra CBD Limited has a number of research objectives. Our goal is to provide City Centre stakeholders with information that increases their understanding of the Centre’s customer base.
Canberra CBD Limited recently commissioned Crosby Textor to conduct a major research study. The research objectives were to
• assess impressions of the CBD amongst key audiences and the reasons underpinning them
• identify the opportunities for and barriers to greater utilisation of Canberra CBD as a commercial/lifestyle destination, and
• assess perceptions of Canberra CBD Limited and identify the priorities for the company.
A summary of the findings across the key audiences follows:
CBD Users – general public
Parking (access and value) is the most important attribute of a shopping or business precinct with four out of five Canberran’s rating its importance 8 out of 10 or higher. More than two-thirds want: a shopping precinct that is free of people loitering or harassing passers-by for money or cigarettes (69% rated this at 8/10 or higher); and a wide variety of shops and eating places (68% rated 8/10 or higher). Two-thirds say clean buildings and footpaths are very important (66% rated 8/10 or higher).
On average, one quarter (25%) of the Canberra region community visit the Canberra CBD every week and nearly two-thirds (62%) visit the CBD at least once a month.
Canberra City visitors are more satisfied with their visit overall than other centres with one in five (21%) “extremely satisfied” compared with 12 per cent for Fyshwick, 12 per cent for Belconnen and 14 per cent for Woden, and more than half (57%) “extremely” or “very satisfied” with the City compared to 51 per cent for Woden, 47 per cent for Belconnen and 46 per cent for Fyshwick.
Shopping, eating out and being there with friends are the main reasons the community would visit the Canberra CBD.
CBD Community – residents and workers
CBD residents and workers see the key advantages of living in the city as convenience and amenity with choices for shopping, food as well as a wide choice of venues for entertainment.
The perceived high level of convenience and amenity is sufficient (for now) to overcome a range of downsides, including -
- lack of convenient, reliable public transport and the availability and cost of parking
- drug-dealing and drunkenness and resultant fighting/screaming, broken glass and vomit.
Workers see the ‘real’ CBD on a daily basis and are more critical of some particular aspects of the environment and ambience. They particularly notice the bird droppings from pigeons and magpies, both in their pedestrian movements and when they want to just sit somewhere to eat lunch. They see and experience menacing young people pestering passers-by for money or cigarettes (in Garema Place mostly). They are concerned about their own personal security after hours, with particular respect to drunks and fighting and the fact that they believe there is insufficient lighting where they need it. They also note the lack of (weather) shelter when walking around the CBD.
CBD workers generally feel the CBD is a more ‘chic and modern’ location to work and has a more upmarket feel than other areas, but the location is not a particular driver in choice of job.
Business owners
Business owners/managers locate in the CBD for customer traffic, the critical mass of businesses and prestige which attracts clients and customers prepared to ‘spend more’.
The primary reasons businesses locate to and stay located in the CBD are:
- customer traffic flow is seen to be better than other centres
- critical mass of retailers, shops, restaurants, etc, more attractive to potential customers
- better class of client/customer (and ability to generate better margins).
CBD property owners
Building owners see the City as offering critical mass and prestige/quality. These factors, along with the geographically central location, are seen to contribute to making the CBD attractive for tenants and their clients/customers alike.
CBD building owners are overwhelmingly supportive of the new developments that have been taking place in the CBD recently. The new City West and new Acton developments rate particular mention. The Canberra Centre extension also earns spontaneous approval.
As enthusiastic as they are overall about the new developments, CBD building owners are also quite critical of the lack of development opportunities they see in some areas of the city. Like every other stakeholder group, parking is an issue for building owners because it is an issue for their tenants, their tenants’ staff and their tenants’ customers. The parking issue is exacerbated by the perceived lack of an efficient, reliable public transport system to carry workers and customers to and from the CBD.
A further challenge lies in Government regulation (especially with respect to planning) which is seen to be inhibiting both new development and the upgrading of existing stock.
Along with the benefits of having a building in the CBD, there are also recognised downsides for building owners and their tenants: cleaning and vandalism, particularly graffiti, is felt to be a constant problem; the incidence of alcohol-related behaviour and other anti-social or illegal activity is considered to be greater in the CBD than other centres.
The role of Canberra CBD Limited
Many City building owners and agents believe there are positive reasons for an organisation such as Canberra CBD Limited to exist. They believe that having a coordinated central body where they can interact with other CBD property owners and express their concerns will give them a greater voice with Government, more quickly and strategically resolve issues and help renew the CBD.
Building owners generally expect Canberra CBD Limited to be working to make the city more vibrant and feel safer; that they believe will ultimately attract more people.
Cleaning is also seen by building owners as germane to improving the reputation of the CBD. Beyond physical improvements, advocacy on behalf of CBD building owners collectively is seen as a primary role for Canberra CBD Limited. There is strong recognition that the organisation has a limited budget and cannot possibly achieve all the CBD infrastructure improvements that are needed/desired by building owners. Therefore, they think it is essential that the organisation act as an agitator to achieve greater focus on and funding for the CBD from Government.
Building owners will be looking for Canberra CBD Limited to get tangible, visible “runs on the board” to demonstrate its worth. Critical to demonstrating the organisation’s effectiveness will be its communications, particularly with building owners (and potentially business owners) more broadly, not just members.
Canberra CBD Limited Board
(From left seated) Linda Staite,CEO; Emmanuel Notaras,Chair; Johnathan Efkarpidis, Mark Sukroo, Catherine Carter;(standing) Peter Barclay, James Service, Steven Flannery,(Members not present: Norman Schroeder, Pater Sarris)
Emmanuel Notaras
REPRESENTING
THE CITY HEART BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Emmanuel (Manny) Notaras was born in Canberra in 1946 and has lived here ever since. He commenced his work career in the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department in 1964 leaving in 1973 to establish, with entrepreneur Arthur Laing, what was to become Canberra’s first integrated entertainment, promotion and recording company. Although a participant in the wider family business interests Manny involved himself full time in those activities from 1979 and continues to do
so to the present.
Manny has served as president of Canberra City Heart Business Association for over 10 years. He is a member of the Board of Immigration Bridge Australia, The ANU School of Music Foundation Board, The Canberra Museum and Gallery Advisory Committee and The National Riesling Challenge Committee.
‘As a born and bred Canberran I have a great affection for my home town and really lamented the decline of our city centre in recent years. It is with great pride that I have been involved in the establishment of Canberra CBD Limited. I’m delighted to be a member of this dedicated board, well served by a talented executive, which has already achieved so much.’
Catherine Carter
REPRESENTING
THE PROPERTY COUNCIL
Catherine Carter is the ACT Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, the national representative of the property industry, and is responsible for all aspects of the organisation’s operations, policy development and public affairs in the ACT. The Property Council is a leading advocate for greater strategic planning of our major cities, more efficient infrastructure funding mechanisms, taxation reform, planning reform and sustainable development.
The Property Council is committed to the revitalisation of Civic and the refurbishment of the inner core.
Norman Schroeder
FRICS, FAPI (CPV) F Fin
REPRESENTING
THE PROPERTY COUNCIL
A resident of Canberra for nearly 20 years, Norman has been associated for 40 years with commercial, industrial and retail property investment, development and management. A qualified Valuer, Norman is a Fellow and Past President of the Australian Property Institute (ACT Division), a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute. He has spent most of his working life associated with properties throughout Australia that have been owned by leading Financial Institutions or Managed by Commercial Agencies.
James Service
REPRESENTING
THE PROPERTY COUNCIL
James Service is the Managing Director of J G Service Pty Ltd. James is also Chairman of the ACT Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Authority, a member of the ACT Division of the Property Council of Australia, a Director of Canberra CBD Limited, a Founding Board Member of AFFIRM, President of the Canberra Cancerians Committee and President of Koomarri and past Chairman of Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (now Australian Capital Tourism).
Elected members of the board
Peter Barclay
Peter holds a BEc from the ANU and is an Associate of the Australian Property Institute. In 2007 he was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to the community and to business.
Peter has operated and established several businesses in Canberra over the past 23 years. He has been actively involved in the revitalisation of Civic over the past 15 years, being a founding member of the City Heart Business Association. Peter now manages King O’Malley’s Irish Pub as well as several building in Civic. Peter has been on the Board of Lifeline Canberra, is a member of Rotary Club of Canberra East and chaired the club’s Rotary Centenary Project which revitalised the Captain Cook Park in Griffith in partnership with the ACT Government.
Currently he sits on the Board of Exhibition Park and the Salvation Army Canberra’s Red Shield Advisory Committee.
Steven Flannery
Steven Flannery is Senior Director - Valuation & Advisory Services CB Richard Ellis
Steven has worked in property valuation for over 20 years. His industry experience has included general agency, property management and valuation services as a qualified valuer. Steven’s expertise includes commercial, office, investment and industrial property valuation including valuation of ACT rural leasehold propeties.
His previous roles include valuation at Jones Lang Wootton and Senior Valuer and Principal of McCann Property and Planning.
At the recent ACT Property Council Awards, Steve was honoured with the 2008
‘Allan Wylucki’ Property Professional of the Year Award.
Johnathan Efkarpidis
Johnathan holds a Bachelor in Arts from the Australian National University and is fluent in Greek and Italian. Johnathan is Commercial and Operations Director for the Molonglo Group, a post he has held for more than 9 years.
Johnathan works closely with the Molonglo Group’s tenants, servicing their needs and ensuring that our facilities remain outstandingly excellent. In this role Johnathan has extensive experience in property leasing, tenant management, marketing and facilities management. Increasingly Johnathan has also taken a more active project management role in the group’s residential development business.
In addition to his commitment and roles within the Molonglo Group, Johnathan is Vice President of Canberra’s “City Heart”, an organization that promotes Canberra Central on behalf of retailers in the CBD.
Peter Sarris
Peter is a Director of NDH Property Services Pty Ltd and of many of the associated companies of NDH. NDH is one of Canberra’s largest and successful full service private commercial property development, management, construction and investment companies. With over 20 years experience he is responsible for the overall management of the group with particular focus on new development, financial and strategic planning. NDH is directly responsible for the asset management of 5 properties in Central, North and the West precincts of the Canberra City (one under construction) and the interests of its valued tenants.
Peter and the NDH Group have a vision of developing sustainable building environments. All new projects have been developed to target a 5 Star ABGR (reduced greenhouse emissions) and a Greenstar rating with a rolling refurbishment program to reduce emissions on existing buildings.
Mark Sukroo
Mark has a Bachelor of Arts (Administration & Economics), University of Canberra, Associate Diploma of Business (Real Estate Valuation), Certified Property Manager, Property Council of Australia & an Associate (Land Economy), Australian Property Institute.
Mark has been a Canberra resident for 30 years and has worked with Jones Lang LaSalle for 20 years in all facets of commercial property. Mark works closely with an array of clients including institutions and Canberra based property owners. Mark’s broad experience comprises the end-to-end management of high quality commercial office towers mainly in the Canberra CBD. Mark possess’ a passion for property, which is demonstrated by his overall knowledge of the markets he works in and his enthusiasm to be involved in new and challenging projects.
Web Site
www.inthecitycanberra.com.au
has been redesigned and made more user friendly. Please check out the site and let us know what you think.
Membership of Canberra CBD
Membership of Canberra CBD Limited is free and over the last financial year membership has tripled.
We would like to see it increase considerably and are working to this end. However, as the ACT Government could not give Canberra CBD Limited a list of levy payers because of privacy reasons, the task of establishing a data base of levy payers continues to be challenging, to say the least. It has involved buying the Cityscope CBD property list and then a lot of door knocking by our CBD Ranger, Nicci. Maree in the office has also spent many hours identifying who the property owners are for each block and section in the City.
If you have not already joined Canberra CBD Limited, we ask you to seriously consider doing so. If you are not convinced of the benefits, please talk to us. This request goes out to both property owners and agents who manage properties on behalf of their owners. Either you (as the owner) or your clients (if you manage properties) are paying the levy, so why not have a say in how it is spent?
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
if you have any good ideas or would like to discuss any Canberra CBD Limited issues here is how to contact us.
Visit us at:
Industry House, Akuna Street
(opposite the Myer entrance
to the Canberra Centre).
Contact us:
Office: 6162 4292
Linda Staite: 0406 376 756
info@canberracbdlimited.com.au
www.inthecitycanberra.com.au
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