The ACT Government has released the place design brief for Phillip Block 1, Section 7 (commonly known as Matilda Street car park), which it intends to develop into “a liveable, green, and vibrant neighbourhood”.

However, the local Phillip business community says the proposal has failed them.

The site is in the Woden Town Centre, bordered by Matilda Street, Bowes Street, and Callum Street. At the moment, it is a public carpark and a temporary bus depot.

The Suburban Land Agency consulted the community about the site between October 2022 and February 2023, including through pop-up stalls, workshops, and co-design surveys.

“This precinct,” the Place Design Brief states, “is a thriving mixed-use community that delivers the best in urban living by successfully integrating opportunities to work, live and learn through attainable housing for a broad range of household types, access to a convenient public and active transport network, proximity to education facilities, public amenities and shops, a strong focus on culture, creativity and easy access to green open spaces and nature.”

The Agency states that the Brief builds on the 2015 Woden Town Centre Master Plan, and guides developers in preparing “a development proposal that responds to the area’s unique attributes and contributes positively to Woden’s identity”.

The government will release the tender in May. This will ask for innovative design and development proposals that respond to the Place Design Brief.

“Woden Town Centre is a major community and commercial hub for the Woden Valley and the wider Canberra region,” John Dietz, CEO of the Suburban Land Agency, said. “The Place Design Brief defines desirable urban experiences focused on people and place.”

However, Tom Adam, president of the Phillip Business Community, believes the proposal ignores Phillip south of Hindmarsh Drive, and does not fix parking problems.

“By the looks of it, the ACT Government have come up with a fantastic development opportunity for the centre of Woden,” Mr Adam said.

“Our concerns – as always – are that: the development needs world-leading public transport, that we don’t have; the development is heavily focused on Woden north of Hindmarsh Drive, but at least it’s not part of the shopping centre; and that the development will drive cars into the suburbs, and does nothing to solve the issue with limited parking for the ever increasing number of cars coming to Woden.

“It may be that the government wishes people don’t drive, but the alternatives lack the timeliness. And we feel that this will only serve to worsen the parking pressures.”