The National Capital is a dynamic city subject to change and evolution and is, in no way, complete. Many people believe the Parliamentary Zone has an empty and unfinished character, where the vast distances between the institutions and other facilities discourage pedestrian movement and activity. The National Capital Planning Authority is confident that increased development can be achieved without detriment to the area's setting, dignity, and symbolism.
A long term vision for the Parliamentary Zone in the 21st century would provide for and encourage a much more diverse range of activities and institutions to be concentrated in the area. Subject to Parliamentary approval and funding, the first stage of this transition would see the old Parliament House refurbished as a Constitutional Museum and provision of ' shopfront offices for the Heritage Commission and the Australian Electoral Education Center.
Other major national institutions such as the Australian Archive and Exposition Building and elements of the National Museum of Australia could be constructed.
The present 'Land Axis' from the Parliament House would be better defined and embellished as an attractive pedestrian Mall with gardens, fountains and other features.
Tourist facilities, shops and cafes might be constructed adjacent to the Mall and an internal bus system for tourists established to circulate visitors between Parliament House and the other national institutions in the area, down to the lake shore promenade.
At the same time, the architectural integrity and setting of Parliament House would be maintained by ensuring the annulus is managed as a landscape setting with an interpretive trail giving access to points of heritage interest.
Canberra, like other cities in Australia, is a multicultural capital with two out of every five persons being either an immigrant or the children of immigrants, which is higher than for the average of Australia as a whole.
In September 1992 the estimated population of the Australian Capital Territory was 297,000 residents or 1.7 per cent of the national population. It is now the seventh largest Territory/State in the nation, surpassing the Northern Territory and at present rates of growth likely to overhaul Tasmania as the sixth largest, early in the 21st century.
Year ended June 1991 the ACT's population increased at a rate of 2.97 per cent, as against the rate of 1.5 per cent for the rest of Australia. In fact, in every period since the establishment of the Territory in 1911, the ACT has grown at a greater annual rate than the rest of the nation.
The ACT, with 23.5 per cent of it's residents born overseas has the second highest proportion of foreign born residents in Australia, being exceeded only by Western Australia. Nearly 30 per cent of overseas born residents in the ACT were born in Great Britain and Ireland.
A further 17.6 per cent of the ACT population were Australian-born persons with at least one parent born overseas.
While few immigrants came directly from overseas to Canberra, it appears that a significant number move to Canberra after a short period of residence elsewhere in Australia.
In terms of ancestry, 72.9 per cent of the ACT population is of Anglo-Celtic origin.
All these people, whatever their background, contribute to the diversity and character of Canberra and help to shape its future.
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