Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00620:body:0:p35
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00620
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 93963–96923

in the 1980s.[76]  It highlighted the possibility of using the carparks of East and West Block on either side of Federation Mall to accommodate the required growth, predicting the need for three storey buildings, with multilevel basement car parking desirable.[77]
When the National Capital Plan was updated in 2016, the first comprehensive review since 1991, the use of the carparks was reaffirmed.[78]   The proposed amendments included a recommendation to change the zoning of the land within the Parliamentary Triangle, specifically of West Block and East Block, to allow for commercial uses such as hotels and offices.[79]
In 2015, a scoping study was undertaken by the Federal Government, which considered the future of six government-owned buildings within the Parliamentary Triangle.  The possibility of private ownership of the six buildings – the John Gorton building, Treasury building, ANZAC Park East, ANZAC Park West and the two former Secretariat buildings – was considered in the review.[80]   The study recommended that four of the six buildings could be considered for private ownership – the two ANZAC Park buildings and East and West Block.[81]
The proposal to sell the four public buildings was met with some concern from the community, particularly relating to the two former Secretariat buildings.  Historical societies and heritage groups expressed concern about the change of the buildings within the Parliamentary Triangle to private ownership, with the Griffin Society questioning whether the integrity of the Parliamentary Triangle was threatened by the sale.[82]  Territory politicians also questioned the sale and in September 2017, the ACT Government passed a motion to work with Federal Government to explore alternatives to the outright sale of the buildings.[83]
Despite the community concern, West Block was the first building to sell, with Geocon purchasing the property for $6.25 million in September 2017.  The two ANZAC Park buildings and East Block were sold in December 2017, for a combined $122.5 million, including a development site on Constitution Ave.[84]
In 2018, the new owners Geocon, were presented with a $100,000 sculpture of Winston Churchill honouring the historic links between West Block and the secret communications during World War II.[85]

Figure 26 Sequential development of West Block, ground floor

Figure 27 Sequential development of West Block, First Floor

Figure 28 Sequential development of West Block, Second Floor

Figure 29 Sequential development of West Block, Third Floor/Roof Plan

2.10                 Existing conditions
The following provides a description of West Block, the Dugout and their setting as they existed in May/June 2018.

2.10.1            Site overview
West Block is an office building that comprises a series of four three-storey wings (or blocks) of varying footprint connected on a north-south axis. – A Block is at the north, with D Block at the south.  There is