The two 13-storey towers proposed in the first stage of Geocon’s plans for the Phillip pool site. Image: Cox Architecture.
Geocon has responded quickly to a list of entity concerns about the first stage of its controversial development plans for the Phillip pool site.
The construction giant last year lodged a development application with the Territory Planning Authority to build two 13-storey residential towers comprising 286 units on a section of the site, which currently houses the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre.
The ground floor must also include a new public aquatic centre with a 25-metre lap pool, as well as a café, splash pad, learn-to-swim area and outdoor water play area.
Eventually, Geocon wants to build a total of 696 units on the entire site over three stages.
The DA was paused in February this year due to potential traffic issues, certain tree removals, sunlight, and privacy issues affecting some units.
Late last month, the Planning Authority again hit the pause button after more concerns were raised in responses from TCCS and the Conservator of Flora and Fauna, as well as the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Icon Water, and Planning and Urban Policy.
These include too many units per floor, up to 13 on some floors, and some units so ‘deep-set’ that not enough natural light would reach kitchens and bedrooms. In many units, toilets are located directly off kitchens.
Many of the balcony spaces also directly face each other with limited separation, resulting in privacy issues.
They also suspect Geocon might be trying to “maximise the pool area” through a “complicated and non-compliant waste management system” where it’s not clear how exhaust gases from the pool and commercial areas of the development will be redirected away from the units.
Geocon has now lodged an amended DA that aims to resolve these concerns, including updated building, landscaping, traffic and noise management plans.
It has reconfigured the units, adjusted types and layouts and updated bathrooms.
As a result, the number of one-bed units has increased from 115 to 142, the two-bed units have been reduced from 144 to 119, and the three-bed units have lost one to be 25 in total.
The distance between the towers has been increased, a balcony on the north face of Tower B has been removed, and residential amenity space along the corridors has been added.
The extent of the facades has been adjusted, resulting in more space between Tower B and the neighbouring Trilogy development, and additional privacy screening has been added to the apartment glazing facing Trilogy.
Skylights have been added to the east-facing Tower A apartments at Level 12.
More information and diagrams have been provided on cross-ventilation, sunlight and shadowing.
In the aquatic centre, the outdoor space has been updated to include a wall that can be opened during summer. Additional drawings show the pool exhaust on the mezzanine floor, and pool signage and the ground facade have been updated along Melrose Drive.
The waste enclosure has been revised and set back from Melrose Drive.
The project continues to attract opposition from sections of the Woden community that want the current 50-metre outdoor pool to be retained.
Comments on the amended DA close on 8 September.
