I am a long term local resident who uses Dickson Shops regularly, and a planning professional.
1. A diverse mix of independent tenants is fundamental to the character and functioning of the shopping centre generally, by offering a range of services and service types that respond to community needs. The Crown Lease can, and should, operate to support diversity and independence by expanding the Uses permitted on centre blocks, within reason. Franchisees detract from a place's vibrancy, by making places look and feel like any generic street or mall anywhere else, and should therefore be tightly limited. How does the City and Environment Directorate mitigate that threat to Dickson's special character?
2. The Dickson Shops are primarily a family friendly inclusive space, that young children and students of all ages regularly visit and travel through to reach multiple destinations, drawing in parents, carers, and grandparents together with other shoppers. Restricting the consumption of alcohol and other drugs is consistent with ensuring the safety of shopping centre patrons and their families, so I object to including "drink establishment" in the list of permissible uses, and contend that there is already an excessive number of outlets that sell alcohol and other drugs within easy walking distance of this location. Capping that is important to restore public confidence in the Dickson Shops as a safe place to spend time in.
The Territory Plan definition is as follows:
"drink establishment means the use of land for the sale of alcoholic beverages and spirits to members of the public primarily for consumption on the premises, and which is a licensed premise under the Liquor Act 2010." Bar and tavern are provided as examples.
The ACT Government's role in ensuring good place making character and safety begins with the lease, so by omitting Drink establishment from the list of permissible uses the Directorate would be protecting the community as a whole from unnecessary and harmful impacts. In the absence of any direct overall Dickson Shops place manager other than City Renewal (whose jurisdiction is confined to public areas of the centre) the Crown Lease remains the only instrument whereby future uses (and tenants) can be sought by the private landlord.
