Chief Executive's Summary
Your values, Your culture, Your stories
Our Nation, Your Capital
Canberra is one of Australia’s greatest achievements. The National Capital Authority is focused on developing Canberra as a place that is worthy of pride by all Australians – a place that symbolises our heritage, values and aspirations and which is internationally recognised. The city is the seat of the Australian Parliament and location of the Australian High Court. It is home to our major national institutions and cultural collections, key policy agencies of the Australian Government, the Defence headquarters, leading educational and research institutions and the diplomatic community. It is also home to a thriving local population of some 300 000 people.
However, much remains to be done if Canberra is to realise its full potential as a cosmopolitan world-class city in the 21st century. A key priority for the Authority is to ensure that areas of national significance in the capital are developed in accordance with long-term strategic goals – we must safeguard the status, future use, infrastructure, character and setting of the capital. To this end The Griffin Legacy (published in December 2004), our blueprint for the future development of the Central National Areas of Canberra, has continued to drive the Authority’s planning, design and promotion endeavours. The legacy builds on the past investment of Australians in their capital and unlocks the present to secure the future.
During the year The Griffin Legacy initiatives were developed with key Australian Government asset stakeholders, the Departments of Defence and Finance, and with the ACT Government. A Griffin Legacy Forum was established with these stakeholders and a memorandum of understanding developed. Particular planning and urban design consideration was given to West Basin and to Constitution Avenue, and also to the City Hill Precinct as part of the ACT Government Canberra Central Task Force. This work will inform preparation of essential associated draft amendments to the National Capital Plan to facilitate the quality of development envisaged in the legacy.
Other planning achievements included preparation of Urban Design Guidelines for the National Portrait Gallery to guide the design competition and subsequent development approvals, and for a new Australian Government secure precinct on Constitution Avenue.
Significant capital works constructed during the year, such as the five stone artworks along Reconciliation Place in the Parliamentary Zone, highlight Australia’s values and heritage. Completion of the Australians of the Year Walk, the
RG Menzies Walk and the Commonwealth Place jetties and foreshore promenade provide new meaningful national public places along Lake Burley Griffin and extend access to the surrounding parklands. Design approval was also given for kiosks at Commonwealth Place and for new amenities at Anzac Parade clearing the way for future construction.
The Authority’s outreach activities promoting the capital, built on the success and expansion of the broadcast of the Australia Day Live concert. The concert’s live audience swelled to 35 000 people whilst the broadcast reached more than 500 000 people (19.9 per cent of the viewing audience). Similarly, participation in national celebration was extended with the enhancement of Australia Day activities in partnership with the Australia Day Council and the ACT Government, including a children’s festival that attracted more than 10 000 people.
Leadership and outreach was supported further with the successful conduct of the inaugural Canberra Biennial – city of architecture and design festival in partnership with the University of Canberra and the ACT Planning and Land Authority. The contribution and interest of the diplomatic community signalled the potential of this event to showcase Australian design achievements from the capital to the world.
The success of our initiatives in outreach in recent years is demonstrable in the results of our 2006 National Perceptions Survey. Australian’s enthusiasm for their capital has increased from 36.6 per cent to 44.3 per cent over the last four years. Notably, the Australia Day Live concert has had the positive influence on people’s perceptions about the capital that the Authority had anticipated.
The Authority manages non-financial assets valued at more than $425 million and 1100 hectares of some of the most valuable and significant assets in Australia. This portfolio includes Lake Burley Griffin and its foreshores, Anzac Parade and the memorials, magnificent central parks and historic gardens and plantings, commemorative public artworks and installations and the diplomatic estate land. The Authority maintains and manages these assets consistent with their cultural value and the design intent and, to this end, has been keenly preparing a range of heritage management plans.
This year the Authority also launched the Lake Burley Griffin Recreation Policy and was pleased to see completion of microbiology research for the lake by the Australian National University’s School of Botany and Zoology. Largely funded by the Authority since 2003 to research DNA testing in water quality monitoring,
this work has been of interest to a number of organisations responsible for inland recreational waters and is expected to be published in 2006–07. The Authority also completed replacement of the expansion joints for Kings Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue bridges with minimal disruption to traffic in the city.
The Authority corporate and governance structures not only serve our regulatory and compliance responsibilities but also drive service improvement and strengthen our stakeholder relationships. Once again the Authority was recognised for its risk management culture, being highly commended in the small agency category in the Comcover 2005 Awards for Excellence.
Such awards to the Authority, or for projects the Authority manages, are a positive demonstration of leadership and recognise innovation and excellence. During the year the Authority received the Planning Institute of Australia national Award for Urban Design for the Griffin Legacy; the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects national Award for Excellence for Research and Communication in Landscape Architecture for the Griffin Legacy and their ACT Chapter Award for Excellence for Planning in Landscape Architecture for the Griffin Legacy, and a Merit Award for the Old Parliament House Gardens; the Royal Australian Institute
of Architects ACT Chapter Heritage Award for the Old Parliament House Gardens,
a Commendation for Urban Design for the Commonwealth Place Forecourt
Stage 2 (and the jetties), and the Heritage Commendation for the National Carillon refurbishment. These achievements attest to the commitment of the members of the Authority and the professionalism and dedication of the staff.
During the year we farewelled Mr David Wright as our Director of Planning and Urban Design; Mr Wright was engaged in national capital planning for more than 30 years, originally with the former National Capital Development Commission, and since its inception, with the National Capital Authority. He oversaw many significant changes to the National Capital Plan ensured quality was the hallmark of development approval in the agency. He also provided guidance and mentoring to his staff and support and friendship to his colleagues. I thank him for his years of distinguished service and for the significant contribution he has made to the vibrant city that Canberra has become and to its destiny as our National Capital.
The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon. Jim Lloyd MP, is responsible for the Authority. Throughout the year the Minister has provided great support to the national capital and to this agency. His interest in all of our initiatives has been most appreciated and the Authority thanks him for his commitment.
On 7 April 2006 Mr Arthur Kenyon AM resigned his position as Chairman of the National Capital Authority, which he had held since May 2004. During his term
Mr Kenyon made a major contribution to the Capital in particular through his staunch support of The Griffin Legacy; development of new memorials and commemorative works such as the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage fountain; critical capital works such as the Commonwealth Place forecourt and jetties and the Old Parliament House Gardens; and development of a suite of water management policy documents for Lake Burley Griffin. Mr Kenyon was also at the helm of the agency for enhancement of the Australia Day concert and other activities and oversaw the launch of our primary and secondary school education resource kits.
Mr Kenyon’s leadership of the Authority was recognised at his official farewell attended by the staff, who hold him in high regard, and many representatives of Canberra’s design and business communities. On behalf of the members of the Authority and the staff I thank him for his guidance, direction and good spirit.
Our new Chairman, Mr Michael Ball AM, has been a member of the Authority since July 2001. Mr Ball was previously a member of the Authority’s Parliamentary Zone Advisory Panel and the Chairman of our former Events and Marketing Advisory Panel. He has embraced his new role with great enthusiasm and vitality providing outstanding leadership and guidance to me and to his other colleagues on the Authority.
The Authority is fortunate to have staff so committed to the future of Canberra
and who conduct themselves with such professionalism and vigour. They are a credit to this agency and I thank them for their dedication and commitment. I also thank our volunteers who work so closely with us to enhance visitor appreciation
of our capital city.
The Authority is well prepared and looks forward to continuing to build a National Capital worthy of the pride of all Australians. In particular we are keen to develop and promote the benefits and opportunities inherent in the Griffin Legacy for
all Australians.
Annabelle Pegrum
Chief Executive