Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p42
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
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and design outcomes through public meetings, surveys, email and formal public comment processes. By the end of 2021 more than 7,000 responses had been received through these processes, one of the largest public outreach efforts associated with a Canberra based development in years.

   Whilst the majority of commenters supported both the need for the project and the design outcomes, a section of community submissions received were opposed to both. The replacement of Anzac Hall and the potential change to the arrival sequence created by the New Southern Entrance were both of special concern within the heritage management and architectural communities.

   Notably, in 2020 both the Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Heritage Council made clear their opposition to the demolition of Anzac Hall in public, both as an award-winning exemplar of contemporary architecture and on environmental grounds, the latter especially given the building was only 20 years old, through public comment on the EPBC Act assessment of the project in 2019-20.

   The Institute also conducted a social awareness campaign through its website and social media called 'Hands Off Anzac Hall' seeking to rally community sentiment to prevent the replacement of Anzac Hall. This campaign was paralleled by a lively debate in the media—especially in the ACT—about the project broadly and especially the replacement of Anzac Hall.

   It was the key objective for the Australian War Memorial Council to fulfil the requirements of a detailed and carefully considered brief, to ensure that the vision and operational objectives of the Memorial are met. The Australian War Memorial Council considered that the retention of Anzac Hall would compromise this realisation of the vision and effective operation of the AWM.

       2.5.8  Closure and demolition of Anzac Hall

   In March 2021 the Memorial closed Anzac Hall to the public and commenced the removal of the exhibitions that had been hosted in Anzac Hall since its opening. This work was completed in June 2021 with the transport of the Second World War Lancaster 'G for George' to the Memorial's Treloar

 Technology Centre and the donation of large sections of the associated exhibitions furniture to other museums.

 The four major exhibitions previously hosted in Anzac Hall will return to display, updated and with key objects having undergone significant conservation to enable further long-term display periods, as part of the development project, some in the New Anzac Hall and others elsewhere in the Memorial's galleries, by the time the project is completed in 2028.

 In July 2021, with all approvals in place, demolition of the 2001 Anzac Hall commenced, prior to the finalisation of this HMP. The demolition work was completed by late September that year with more than 90% of the structural steel and concrete components