The words behind what you say are the real essence here though. In the past Canberra had a thriving and active G.A. scene including testing and training as well as socially etc etc. Alas, that is no more, we must go with the times and have shopping centres instead. It isn't only Canberra though. Cairns is just one other. It is a trend in Australian Aviation. Even the G.A. dedicated airports such as Bankstown are ultimately being forced to closure.
The local economy has lots of spin-offs from an active airport that includes all aviation facets. The RPT at both Canberra and Cairns is far from being of the intensity that other operations need to be segregated out.
Blind bureaucrats without no real forward thinking or vision.