The ACT Government is calling for community input on the new Woden CIT precinct and public transport interchange, which will create new public places and green spaces to enliven Woden Town Centre.
“Our aim is to deliver a modern, vibrant and well-connected space, so we want to hear from locals about how you will use and access this new precinct,” said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services.
“We are consulting on features like active travel, wayfinding, safety, and what you want to see included in a revitalised Woden Town Centre. This community input will feed directly into the next stage of design work, following the appointment of a construction partner in early 2022.”
To have your say on CIT Campus – Woden’s public places and green spaces, visit: yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/cit-campus-woden.
The new CIT Campus will be home to around 6,500 students, and approximately 10,000 commuters are expected to move through the new public transport interchange each day.
A pedestrian boulevard will connect the interchange, through the CIT campus, to the Westfield mall and Woden Town Square, in a shared zone linking Bowes and Bradley Streets. This new pedestrian axis would replace the current road in the old interchange.
“The CIT Campus Woden project will bring state of the art learning facilities, a safer, light rail ready public transport interchange, improved active travel links, and vibrant public spaces to Woden,” Mr Steel said.
“This new precinct will be a place that welcomes students, commuters and Woden residents – whether to study, use public transport, access local shops and services co-located with the campus, or meet in new public plazas and green spaces.
“It will revitalise the eastern side of the Woden Town Centre, while better connecting it to the popular green spaces in Eddison Park and beyond.”
Based on feedback, three secure bike enclosures and public toilets are being planned, in addition to the campus facilities for students and staff.
One of the bike enclosures and public toilets is proposed to be in a new park between Grand Central Towers, CIT Woden, and the new Woden Transport Interchange.
“We want to hear from the community about how they would like to use this new green space and what facilities could be included, in addition to public toilets and secure bike parking,” Mr Steel said.
The Government is also seeking feedback on the boulevard. This new pedestrian axis would replace the current road in the old interchange.
“This is an important new pedestrian connection in Woden, and we want the community’s ideas on what elements would make it a welcoming place to dwell as well as pass through,” Mr Steel said.
Mr Steel also released the ‘What we Heard’ report on consultation undertaken between July and September on the proposed local access shared zone between Bowes and Bradley Streets.
“Shade, shelter, seating, active travel, landscaping, and a communal atmosphere matter most in this pedestrian-focused area. This feedback will also help inform the overall design of the precinct’s public places and green spaces,” Mr Steel said.
Key early works for these significant projects are already underway, and road improvements and new bus layovers and facilities will be completed in 2022. Construction on the new interchange will start soon.
“We’ve got a busy period of construction ahead of us as we work to rejuvenate this part of the Woden Town Centre,” Mr Steel said. “I’d like to thank the Woden community and businesses in advance for their engagement with shaping this project, and their patience as we get on with delivering it.”
