The next stage of construction of a purpose-built CIT campus in the heart of Woden town centre is one step closer with the development application now open for public comment.
Acting Minister for Skills Rachel Stephen-Smith said the new campus would deliver state-of-the-art vocational educational facilities and support the revitalisation of Canberra's southern hub.
"We're investing $325 million in the Woden Town Centre through new educational and community facilities to be built in a central, well-connected part of Woden complemented by a new light rail enabled public transport interchange," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
The design of the project has been refined to incorporate community feedback to date.
"We have heard the community and worked closely with our project delivery partner, Lendlease, to improve weather protection, connectivity to nearby active travel routes, safety, precinct activation and deliver more green space," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"We know many Canberrans incorporate active travel in their daily commute to and through Woden. That's why we've added safe and secure bike storage conveniently placed close to the new public transport interchange, new public toilets and connecting bike routes, so commuters can quickly and easily continue their onward journey.
"On weather protection, we have responded by adding a larger entry canopy, as well as increasing the overall covered area around the main CIT building by creating a 2.7-metre-wide colonnade linking the interchange and main campus building. This has significantly increased the covered pathway from 20 metres to more than 135 metres between the interchange and the town centre.
"These are just two of several elements of the project that have been influenced by community feedback and incorporated into the final design."
A key feature of the six-star, green star building is a hall with a large 575m² floor space to cater to a range of different events.
Across the precinct new public spaces, family friendly areas and more planting and canopy cover will mean the heart of the Woden town centre is transformed.
"We look forward to moving through the development application phase and towards construction starting in early 2023 ahead of welcoming students into the new educational precinct in 2025," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"I encourage members of the community with an interest in the future of the Woden town centre and vocational education and training in the ACT to view the plans and have your say."
Consultation on the development application is open for the next 14 days and available at www.planning.act.gov.au/development-applications-assessments/development-applications/current-development-applications.
