Woden/Weston Community centre Report

1. Woden/Weston Creek
Community Hub
May 2015

2. Background
In the 2012-13 Budget $0.550 million was appropriated to investigate options for a
Community Hub in the Woden/Weston Creek area to accommodate a community
centre, a childcare centre and a seniors centre.
The Community Services Directorate (CSD) commissioned Stewart Architecture to
undertake an investigation and document site options for this Community Hub.

3. Stakeholders and Purpose
The key stakeholders are:
• Woden Community Service (WCS),
• Lollipop Childcare Centre (Lollipop),
• Weston Creek Community Association and
• Woden Seniors Club (Woden Seniors).
A new Community Hub will provide more appropriate accommodation for a community
and seniors centre, collocating the operations of WCS (which operates multiple sites)
and Woden Seniors.

4. The Report
The Study focussed on a model where the uses were contained in one building as
this would provide the opportunity to maximise the usage of shared space and reduce
overall space requirements.
After receiving the draft Study WCS indicated their preference for the child care
centre to be located separately to their operations. It is considered that relocation of
the child care centre is not as high a priority and this matter could be addressed
separately.
The Study recommended a community hub be located in the Woden town centre and
that additional site feasibility and design work be undertaken in order to select a
preferred site and design option.
The findings presented require more in-depth design work and consultation to ensure
optimal outcomes for government, the community and the community groups that
operate within the region.

5. The Sites identified by the Consultants
Section 80 option, Site 9
This option would see a community hub form
part of a larger community precinct development
and would require a territory plan variation.
The preliminary cost estimate for development
of a community hub on this site was
approximately $25 million.
This option ruled out

6. The Sites identified by the Consultants
Section 12, Site 1 (the existing site)
A number of issues were noted, namely that the
site, if progressed, would frustrate and
compromise development opportunities of
nearby sites and create overshadowing.
The preliminary cost estimate for development
of a community hub on this site is approximately
$22 million.
This option ruled out

7. The Sites identified by the Consultants
Section 9, Site 2
The option of locating the community hub as a
tenant in a larger commercial development
This option was not recommended.
The Study advised that the arrangement would
have significant drawbacks in delivering a
positive community asset with the level of
autonomy expected of a community facility.
The preliminary cost estimate for development
of a community hub on this site is approximately
$15 million.

8. Additional Sites – Callam Offices
Is largely vacant now that the ACT Government Office in
Gungahlin is completed
provides ample car parking and is potentially suitable for the
purposes required of a community hub.
A number of studies already undertaken including:
• Future Use Studies by GHD (in 2004)
• ...and Townsend Associates (in 2010);
• a 2014 Jones Lang LaSalle proposal for the site be used as a
community facility; and
• a 2014 community needs assessment completed by Buckley
Vann for the ACT Planning Strategy Woden Master Plan (for
the Environment and Planning Directorate) that drew attention
to Callam Offices as a possible site for a community hub.
•The studies referenced above highlight the shortcomings in the
suitability of Callam Offices as office accommodation.

9. Additional Sites – Cosmopolitan Building
The Cosmopolitan Building is a recently refurbished office building
targeting 4.5 star NABERS rating.
The building has new carpet, air conditioning and services. The building
has 7,361sqm of floor space, is split over five levels and has a
basement car park with 40 bays.
Re-use of this building as a community hub would have the advantage
of achieving a good outcome for the regeneration of the Woden town
centre and create a sense of belonging and community within the town
centre, an outcome that the Study identified as crucial to the ongoing
viability of a community hub.
Although the property is not listed on the market, it is understood that
the owners are willing to sell.

10. The Next Steps
The Chief Minister has indicated his preference for the remaining budget funds be used
on design and feasibility on:
• Callam Offices
• Cosmopolitan Building.
ED to commence negotiations with consultants with a view to having the work completed
by the end of 2015