"What is being proposed as the future of Canberra’s suburban development is top down – as if the city has a medieval dictator with unfettered powers to decide how and where his people may live," writes columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
Paul Costigan
Paul Costigan is a commentator on cultural and urban matters. There are more of his columns at citynews.com.au
Claims by Greenslabor that developers don't need to provide adequate parking is laughable. It is pathetic spin to move the guilt on to residents from incompetent politicians, says "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
"This is a complete failure of the planning bureaucracy to deliver anything resembling an innovative 21st century planning system. Surely there must be consequences and someone must go," writes "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
"We now have an ACT government that does its best to look busy but no longer functions for the benefit of those who cherish the city," bemoans "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN. "How the hell did we get to this?"
"The government succeeded in breaking up communities along Northbourne Avenue and across the inner south. It will be easy for them to scatter the 41 Causeway households," writes "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
Today is Andrew Barr's 50th birthday. Columnist PAUL COSTIGAN wonders if he's at home packing to leave his inner-north home to make way for a developer to convert his house for a younger generation looking to buy in at an affordable price.
"Jo Clay thinks the Greens have delivered 30 per cent tree canopy within new developments. She needs to check out how this policy has been watered down within the proposed deregulated approach," says columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
"The most serious issue for residents has been the lack of compliance and the lack of enforcement. Too many development applications have been approved that fail the ACT government’s own planning rules," says columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
“It is common under this Greenslabor government for community facilities and green spaces to be regarded as land banks and as opportunities for profit," writes "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
"The Canberra Liberals need to pay attention to their local constituents, read all the community submissions and to identify with what residents have been saying for decades," says "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
"Barronomics is not about addressing inequality or looking after urban environments, biodiversity, greenery, birds, heritage and stuff that hinders developers," writes "Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN.
Canberra Matters" columnist PAUL COSTIGAN applies some fact checking on three recent media releases from the ACT government.
