Canberrans ability to easily access the Murrumbidgee River from the Northside is one step closer to being a reality with Development Application for Ginninderry’s riverside park pavilion and parkland precinct now on Public Notification.

Identified in the 2014 National Capital Plan, the 8 ha riverside parkland will be the gateway to the Murrumbidgee River for the Capital Region community, providing a unique opportunity to embrace the natural and cultural wonders of the Murrumbidgee River and what will eventually be 596 ha of Ginninderry Conservation Corridor.

Dr Jason Cummings, Ginninderry Conservation Trust CEO, said he was delighted to see the Trust’s vision being brought to life.

“The Ginninderry Conservation Trust exists to conserve ecology and culture through outreach, restoration and research, and this truly unique precinct will be vital in helping us achieve this over the years to come.”

Founded in First Nations culture, the riverside parkland will include land management practices and community education opportunities led by the Trust’s Aboriginal Caring for Country team.

Located 2km from Ginninderry’s urban area, the estimated 90,000 visitors per year will be able to enjoy picnic shelters, nature play, a stargazing lawn and a connection to what will become a vast network of tracks throughout the Conservation Corridor.

The pavilion itself is proposed to be a boomerang-like, 1,168m2 building designed to seamlessly integrate into the natural landscape courtesy of a green roof and amphitheatre overlooking the Murrumbidgee River. The pavilion will house the Trust offices, a licenced food and beverage provider, a visitor centre and toilet facilities.

As part of its commitment to the Ginninderry Conservation Trust, the Ginninderry Joint Venture is responsible for the Development Application and will fund the capital works.

Ginnindery Project Director, Stephen Harding, said it’s a privilege for the Joint Venture to be involved in a project of this nature and that the community’s insights have been greatly appreciated and overwhelmingly positive.

“We have undertaken significant community engagement for a number of years on this initiative, and the valuable feedback gathered has greatly helped shape the proposed plans.”

Riverside parklands represent a remarkable milestone for the Ginninderry Joint Venture, Ginninderry Conservation Trust and the community at large. It signifies a significant step forward in preserving the natural beauty of the Murrumbidgee River and the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor while providing a welcoming space for the community to gather, connect, and immerse themselves in the region’s rich cultural and environmental heritage.

The riverside parkland Development Application is on Public Notification until 2 August.

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