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Plans modified for WWI and WWII pillars

THE plans for the World War I and World War II memorials, proposed to be built at the Rond Terraces site at the foot of Anzac Parade, have been modified.

The Memorial(s) Development Committe Committee chairman, Mike Buick said the committee has taken on board the community’s feedback on the proposal and sought expert advice from a heritage architect to ensure the designs meet the strict standards of the Environmental Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act (EPBC) (1997).

“We have made some design modifications as a result of the community’s feedback and a review by an accredited architectural expert. These modifications will reduce the footprint of the memorials by up to 25 percent,” he said.

“They will be repositioned on the allocated Rond Terrace site to preserve the Parliament House/Australian War Memorial vista and to ensure continued public access to the Rond Terrace site for local community events.

“Their realignment and repositioning will in no way change the original commemorative purpose nor design intent.”

The next step is for the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, to consider the committee’s EPBC referral on the proposed memorials.

The proposed memorials were designed by Australian architect Richard Kirk and Associates. Their design was chosen by an independent panel of veterans and cultural and heritage experts as part of an international design competition.

The design consists of two granite columns – one for each of the World Wars – linked by a granite pavement. The columns will have large channels in them, allowing light to illuminate inscriptions on the inner walls on significant days, such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

The memorials will be engraved with quotes and anecdotes collected from the descendants of veterans and the pavement will be engraved with information showing the impact on towns and cities affected by the wars.

More information at www.mdc.org.au

 

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One Response to Plans modified for WWI and WWII pillars

David Stephens says: 13 December 2011 at 10:55 am

This is a desperate ploy by Colonel Buick and his team. They have raised just one per cent of the money they need (ASIC figures) and are trying to nip and tuck their harebrained scheme to make it acceptable. The recent report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital slammed both the process and the outcome of the decision-making in relation to this project. Crucially, also the ministerial determination of November 2008 approved a design of a particular character (as set out in the winning design in the competition) which was for towers 20 metres tall, in a particular place. Lopping the towers and moving them is clearly a change of character. Colonel Buick has to start again!

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