Blocks 3 and 5 Section 39 Campbell – Australian War Memorial Public Realm Works

Blocks 3 and 5 Section 39 Campbell – Australian War Memorial Public Realm Works

A Works Approval (WA) application has been submitted to the National Capital Authority (NCA) by the Australian War Memorial (AWM). The application is for Public Realm works associated with the major site redevelopment works underway at Blocks 3 and 5 Section 39 Campbell (the Australian War Memorial site).

The NCA is seeking views on the proposed new work and modifications to the Western Precinct Carpark and Sculpture Garden and to Poppy’s Carpark, inclusive of soft and hard landscaping elements, tree planting, sculpture relocations and lighting across the Australian War Memorial precinct.

Details of the proposal include:

• Creation of a pedestrian pathway through the carpark from Treloar Crescent to the start of the sculpture garden.
• Creation of a new accessible pedestrian route through the sculpture garden to the main entrance, and realignment of the existing footpath to the Captain Reg Saunders courtyard as a secondary route.
• Poppy’s carpark extension landscaping works consisting of demolition of the temporary rooftop carpark and infrastructure and installing new landscape.

This consultation process is not seeking opinions on the cost, merits or heritage impacts of the built forms of the AWM expansion project or the curatorial content as these issues have been previously canvassed and addressed or are not matters for the NCA’s regulatory oversight. See the background section below for more details of previous decisions that will not be revisited by the NCA.

Following the close of the consultation process, we will review all input from a technical perspective and if appropriate discuss possible modifications with the AWM to their proposed approach. We will let you know about any changes that arise through this process.

_{Site Works Plan (Source: Turf Design Studio, 2022)}

Listen to landscape architects Turf Design Studio describe the proposed works and thinking behind the design of the Public Realm works. This presentation was provided by the Australian War Memorial for the purposes of this consultation. Supporting drawings and information can be found below.

Planning Report.PDF
Locality Plan.PDF
Public Domain Works Masterplan.PDF
Carpark Landscape.PDF
Western Landscape.PDF
Public Realm Graphic.PDF
Tree Removal and Replacement.PDF
Ecological Impact Statement.PDF
External Lighting.PDF
Bushfire Assessment Report.PDF
Heritage Impact Statement.PDF

Further information

Details of the overall redevelopment can be found at the AWM website.

Background Information

The AWM site is located in a Designated Area of the National Capital Plan. No works are permitted to be undertaken in a Designated Area unless the NCA has approved the works in writing. The proposed redevelopment works constitute “works” under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. The AWM is seeking NCA works approval for the proposed Public Realm works associated with the redevelopment of the AWM site as outlined above.

This consultation process is being undertaken to inform consideration of works as set out in the Australian War Memorial works approval application.

The NCA’s consultation process does not consider the need or cost of the proposed works. Such matters are not matters addressed by the National Capital Plan and therefore are not subject to the NCA’s consideration.

In the case of the AWM redevelopment project, matters of cost and need have been addressed by the Australian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Works (PWC) and therefore considered by elected representatives from across Australia. The NCA notes that the PWC undertook extensive public consultation on the vision for the project, and details of the development, including the overall design and construction costs as part of its consideration of this project.

Similarly, the curatorial direction and detailed exhibition content of the AWM are not matters for consideration by the NCA and were not the subject of this consultation process. The curatorial direction and selection of objects displayed within the AWM are exclusively matters for the AWM Council.

Previous Approvals

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (PWC) supported the proposed redevelopment on 25 February 2021 in accordance with the Public Works Committee Act 1969. This decision appears in the Hansard as ‘carried’ by the House of Representatives.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) assessed the proposed works for the entire redevelopment in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). On 10 December 2020, the Minister for the Environment approved the Australian War Memorial redevelopment proposal under the EPBC Act. A variation to this approval was approved on 27 May 2021.

The NCA has approved a number of projects and preparatory works for the renewal and expansion of the AWM site including new car parking, asbestos removal and temporary structures used for public displays, office purposes and site compounds.

On 12 March 2021, the NCA received an Early Works application for the demolition of Anzac Hall, excavation works, services relocation, temporary fencing and tree removal in the grounds of the AWM. Following public consultation, the NCA approved the Early Works application on 4 June 2021. To read more about the Early Works application and the consultation process, including the Consultation Report, please see https://www.nca.gov.au/planning/public-consultations/block-3-section-39-campbell-australian-war-memorial-early-works

On 28 June 2021, the NCA received an application for the Main Works, with three separate areas of work related to:

• construction of a new Southern Entrance, main building refurbishment works (external), Forecourt and Parade Ground
• extension to the existing Bean Building and construction of a new Central Energy Plant
• construction of a new Anzac Hall and Glazed Link

Following public consultation, the NCA approved the Main Works application on 23 November 2021. To read more about the Main Works application and the consultation process, including the Consultation Report, please see https://www.nca.gov.au/planning/public-consultations/blocks-3-and-5-section-39-campbell-australian-war-memorial-main-works.
 

Have your say

Applications closed at 5.00pm (AEDT) Friday 9 December. 2022 Submissions can be viewed below.