GOOGONG ACHIEVES ANOTHER FIRST IN PLANNING PROGRESS

Googong's evolution has reached another major milestone with the endorsement of its $292 million Voluntary Planning Agreement by Queanbeyan City Council.

Googong Project Director Mark Attiwill says the agreement is an innovative approach to planning that makes the needs of Googong's residents a key priority when planning and delivering early infrastructure, and is designed to ensure fundamental services are well-established before the township's first residents even move in.

"It is an innovative approach to progressing communities such as Googong and is a first for the region," he says. "We are thrilled to be working with Queanbeyan City Council to establish and deliver the agreement, which will enable CIC Australia to voluntarily invest hundreds of millions of dollars more in additional public infrastructure into the township."

Items to be delivered under the agreement include:

• upgrading the local road network including Old Cooma Road and Ellerton Drive]
• installing a water and sewerage system, including recycled water infrastructure, which will provide recycled water for use in every home and garden
• building a multipurpose centre, which will include a council shopfront, library and community hall as well as meeting and activity rooms
• building an indoor sports and aquatic centre with two sports courts and a 25 metre lap pool
• creating seven sports fields, 10 tennis courts and six netball courts, as well as five neighbourhood parks and 13 local parks
• building five clubhouses and two neighbourhood community facilities
• restoring an ecological chain of ponds in Montgomery Creek.

"Of course, this investment will benefit the whole region, not just Googong," says Mark Attiwill. "The Voluntary Planning Agreement is an important part of the vision for Googong, and paves the way for the first stage of development to be approved, with the initial land release currently scheduled for the second half of 2011."

Under a separate agreement with the NSW Government, CIC will also commit land for a fire station, a primary and two secondary schools, in addition to the site already committed to the Anglican Diocese for a private primary school.

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