Precinct Development
EXCITEMENT GROWS as the St John’s Precinct Development Board puts the finishing touches to its master plan proposals - due for presentation to St John’s Parish Council and the Diocese Bishop-in-Council in early August 2007. After extensive consultations with Parish and Diocesan stakeholders, the Board and its master plan architect, Rodney Moss of Cox, Humphries Moss, assisted by Shiela Hughes, have firmed up on a footprint of buildings and facilities to serve our Christian Mission well into the future. A master plan does not delve into actual design but our plan does enshrine important requirements about environment design and energy and water efficiencies. For instance, all buildings will meet 5 Star design ratings.
FUTURE: is the driver behind all the planning. St John’s in 2007 is a “Living Church” within a vibrant community. It has always been so since the first congregation filled its pews in 1845 - made possible by the foresight of our early pioneers and thereafter by the pioneering spirit of those who followed through our 162 years. So it’s up to us - to be “pioneers for the future”. The Church of St John’s must never be allowed to become an empty historical museum - a non-active heritage place. “SPIRIT OF PLACE” is a strong focus within the ethos of the master plan - built upon our Parish’s adopted theme of “PILGRIMAGE - SANCTUARY - COMMUNITY - sharing the Christ journey through St John’s”.
EXPANDED VISION: The plan will offer a new worship centre, complementary to our Heritage Church - with design and capacity for future parish growth, various forms of known worship and potential for future flexibility. BALANCING ACT: The intent of the master plan is to guide the ongoing evolution of St John’s from a parish church to a city church, the symbolic and actual centre of both the Parish and the Diocese, and to ensure the long-term future of St John’s for the church, its heritage and the broader community. To build new worship space, Parish and Diocesan offices and facilities; to meet growing demands on St John’s Care; and to provide multi purpose, multi use conference and meeting facilities for the Church and the community calls for an imaginative balancing act. Residential units on Amaroo Street and commercial offices facing Constitution Avenue will generate capital funds for a staged development, with a guaranteed, annual revenue stream for the Parish and the Diocese.
GRIFFIN LEGACY CONFIRMED: Commonwealth Parliament consent on 9 May 2007 for the Griffin Legacy amendment No 60 for Constitution Avenue was a great relief. I wrote on behalf of the Board to the Minister and local members and senators urging them to vote the Greens’ motion down. Had a disallowance motion succeeded our project would have been delayed indefinitely - possibly years. It is now essential to move on while there is a heavy demand for unit style residential accommodation and quality office space, particularly with our unique address and position. Subsequently the Commonwealth Budget provided $70m for the NCA to commence work on the Griffin Legacy plan for Constitution Avenue. This includes widening to a two way Boulevard, Griffin’s “High Street”, and extensive landscaping. We will lose 6.5m from the frontage but we can now build to the boundary.
NEWS WORTHY: St John’s has been in the news with a growing interest in its future plans. St John’s headed a recent WIN TV news bulletin reporting on the Griffin Legacy, focusing on our Constitution Avenue precinct, including our neighbours’ development plans. This follows earlier media coverage of the master plan launch. Our NEIGHBOURS, the Canberra Institute of Technology, have announced their master plan for re-development of their adjourning site. We have held regular joint briefings and explored areas of mutual cooperation. Similarly, we have consulted with the Australian Federal Police opposite, and the Australian War Memorial, about future projected increases in pedestrian traffic around our precinct, including visitors to memorials on Anzac Parade.
AUTHORITIES: Joint meetings have been held with the National Capital Authority and ACT Planning and Land Administration. There is of course strong interest in our strategically placed site - a front runner on the new Constitution Avenue. Numerous STUDIES have been commissioned as an integral part of the master plan such as site survey, landscape and tree management, Golden Sun Moth update, financial due diligence - and very importantly – a Heritage Management Plan which will provide vital resource for securing our position on the National Estate. Dedicated CAR PARKING will be provided for users of all new buildings and careful attention has been given to maximising the needs of Parishioners and visitors.
HERITAGE BOOST: An imperative of the master plan is that all development be in harmony with the heritage precinct - all of which is fully protected. Indeed, the plan enables the precinct to be brought more clearly into focus with a major feature being opening up the Church vista from Constitution Avenue, across the horse paddock, and the inclusion of a heritage and tourist information centre. A “Village Square” concept will be created in front of Parish facilities, bringing the new and old into a central place for “Pilgrimage-Sanctuary-Community”.
PIONEER RECOGNITION: The contribution of “Pioneer Families” since the 1800’s to St John’s and to Canberra, the National Capital that grew around the “little Church on the Limestone Plains”, will be featured around a “Pioneer Place” - with opportunities for involvement by their descendants. Given St John’s historic place in the birth of our National Capital, it is timely to honour Christian men and women whose indomitable spirit and ingenuity have exemplified the Australian spirit of a fair go for all. irrespective of race, colour or creed, and whose tenacity has created legendry opportunities and services to our nation. In keeping with the Christian nature of the St John’s site, there is potential for strategically placed internal and external memorials, artworks, iconic markings and signage to surprise and delight regular users, visitors and tourists - likewise areas for prayer and meditation.
PUBLIC ART: St John’s and its surrounds house many unique artworks celebrating the people and events throughout the history of the Church and School House, Canberra and Australia. Stained glass windows chronicle religious figures and events, members of the pioneer families, and events that had a profound impact on the community. The tradition of story-telling through art at St John’s will continue in the new development. There will be many opportunities within the architecture and on the site to include public art commissions that will enrich the space for parishioners and visitors alike. Artworks may appear through beautifully conceived and constructed elements of the buildings themselves. Similarly, art in the public realm may appear through furnishings or commissions of pure spirit, unconstrained by the requirement to tell a story or have a functional purpose.
WATCH THIS SPACE: Reserve your next issue of ‘In-Community’! The Master plan will be finalised and presented to the Parish Council and Bishop-In-Council. It will include a professionally costed financial plan for the whole of site development, with a projected on-going revenue stream. In the next issue, the St John’s Precinct Development Board will invite you to share in the excitement of the master plan revealed. We believe it will be comprehensive, with something for everyone Meanwhile, I am available for contact on 0409 442 345 and our new website is www.stjohnspdb.org.au. Len Goodman, AOChairman.