Friends of Manuka Pool

The Friends of Manuka Pool submitted an objection to the Canberra Services Club Development Application (DA) DA201732582 for their site on Manuka Circle in March 2024.

The Executive Summary is provided below and the full document available at the end of this page.

Executive Summary

The objection to the DA is based on several grounds, including deficiencies in the Social Impact Assessment (SIA), narrow consultation, and concerns about the proposed lease variation and future use of the site. Key points raised include inadequate community consultation, lack of justification for loss of community land, and insufficient analysis in the SIA. There are also concerns about the potential impact on heritage, loss of community services, and lack of clarity regarding the proposed hotel development. The objection calls for a more comprehensive assessment and process to assess the lease variation request and emphasises the importance of maintaining community land for future generations.

FoMP welcomes the idea of a club serving veterans and emergency personnel but urges careful consideration of the development proposal and preservation of community land.

General concerns:

• We believe the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) accompanying the proposal lacks thoroughness and fails to adhere to guidelines. Additionally, consultation efforts were limited, and community concerns were not adequately addressed.
• We urge the new Planning Minister to uphold the decision of the previous Planning Minister and to reject the lease variation request. 
• We seek assurances that all previous submissions made in response to the original lodgement of this development application are assessed and considered in the revised application. It is natural justice that these are reconsidered with this application as much of the objection relates to issues beyond the SIA and goes to the land valuation of the site.
• We have provided our original objection in 2018 at Attachment A.
• Furthermore, we propose that any revised or new DA for a lease variation should be submitted jointly with future plans and design of the site.
• It is unreasonable to expect community support for a lease variation without clear information on the site’s future use and the Club’s continued presence.
• Regarding the SIA, consultation with community groups was insufficient, and feedback from previous years was not properly addressed.
• The Canberra Services Club (CSC) failed to adequately engage with all relevant community groups prior to submitting the DA. FoMP had to organize a community meeting on 14 March 2024 because CSC and Purdon’s did not reach out to all necessary parties. Additionally, it is unclear if local residents were informed about online or face-to-face consultations regarding the DA.
• We find the claimed benefits of the lease variation, such as improved club facilities, to be unsubstantiated. Additionally, concerns arise over the potential loss of community land and the impact on adjacent facilities like Manuka Oval and Manuka Pool.

Specifically, we note several issues with the proposal:

• Lack of discussion on the future use or sale of the Club’s second site in Blackall Street.
• Concerns about the potential loss of community land amid population growth.
• Unclear implications of nearby infrastructure and walkability.
• Lack of clarity on how educational facilities relate to the development.
• Unanswered questions regarding the potential impact of a hotel development on community and traffic.
• Concerns about the adequacy of strategic planning and community consultation.
• Inadequate consultation with community groups and residents.
• Confusion regarding the proposal’s impact assessment and potential benefits to the community.