The government wants to see more restaurants and cafes along Emu Bank that aren’t fast food. Photo: Screenshot, Google Maps.
Some of the best views of Belconnen’s Lake Ginninderra are afforded from the Hungry Jacks car park on Emu Bank – a point the government has revealed it’s not entirely in favour of.
“I like fast food as much as the next person, and I certainly frequent there – so I don’t want to seem like a hyprocrite – but what we do see is fast food is something that ultimately results in people not staying,” ACT Minister for City Services Tara Cheyne said this week.
“They might dine in, but probably for a short period – and it’s bringing traffic into the town centre, an area where we really do want to encourage active travel. We want to people to stay, to enjoy … one of the best views in all of Belconnen.”
Ms Cheyne made the comments while announcing how much the ACT Government will allocate to Belconnen in the upcoming 2025/26 Budget, to be revealed in full on Tuesday (24 July).
More than $20 million is to be spent over the next four years on upgrades to the district, $5 million alone to “improve and connect” footpaths across Belconnen and widen the shared path around Lake Ginninderra.
There’ll also be money for a new all-abilities play space at Florey, a playground refurbishment for McKellar and the Umbagong District Park, upgrades to the shopping centres, netball courts, and skate park in Charnwood, upgrades to Fraser Primary School and Melba Copland, as well as continued work at the Kippax Fair shopping centre in Holt.
ACT Minister for City Services Tara Cheyne. Photo: ACT Government.
But of particular focus is Emu Bank, or what Ms Cheyne dubbed her “problem child”.
“Emu Bank has had a lot of history over the years, effectively for 15 years,” she said.
“No one could really decide what it should be for – there was even housing considered at one stage – and as a result, what we have now is something that doesn’t make a lot of sense and has a whole lot of untapped potential.”
The government will be dropping the level of Lake Ginninderra by 500 mm over the next four weeks to allow the lake’s retaining wall at Emu Bank to be repaired, and for the bumpy, tree-root-addled paving to be replaced.
The view over Lake Ginninderra from the Hungry Jack’s car park. Photo: Screenshot, Google Maps.
With some help from the Commonwealth Government, the Budget will fund a new playground at the southern end of Emu Bank in the Margaret Timpson Park, complete with new toilets, BBQs, picnic tables, landscaping and improved accessibility.
A new water play park will be installed at the Emu Bank inlet too, as part of a broader upgrade to the foreshore that also includes landscaping works, murals, and tables and chairs.
Ms Cheyne hoped these are all features that “make an area attractive for people to not just walk through, but stay in”.
“What we are hoping is that investment in Emu Bank … will get that level of private investment to take advantage of [Emu Bank’s] great potential,” she said.
“The mainstays have been Hungry Jacks and a few others like Alibaba – they all have a place, but I don’t think the best place for them is across from one of the most beautiful picturesque vistas that we’ve got.”
The Belconnen Community Council welcomed the government’s announcements, but chair Lachlan Butler said it would be nice to see more than announcements at this stage.
“There’s a lot of planning happening at the moment, but we sort of need to see a bit more delivery,” he said.
Belconnen is home to nearly a quarter of the ACT’s total population, and Mr Butler said services, amenities and infrastructure were all “definitely” feeling the pressure.
He also agreed Belconnen still carries the reputation of a “lifeless concrete jungle” – and the prolific spread of fast food outlets on Emu Bank was partly to blame.
Hungry Jacks on Emu Bank – home to the best view of Lake Ginninderra. Photo: Screenshot, Google Maps.
“The problem with having fast food there is you always have traffic moving through, and people stopping for short periods of time. It’s not a place you really want to walk down to and explore. When you have had cafes and restaurants start off there, because there’s no foot traffic, they don’t do well.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
The new Budget is said to build on other investments already underway for Belconnen, including a new early childhood and primary school in Strathnairn and planning for the Northside Hospital, CIT Belconnen upgrade, and Bruce Health, Education and Sports Precinct.
Frequency has also been increased for the R2 bus service between Belconnen and Fyshwick, and a new West Belconnen Rapid Service established with a supporting park-and-ride facility.
