Minister Barr: Releasing more land to support community diversity
- Written by ACT Government
Released 09/08/2024 - Joint media release
The Government will release more than 23,000m2 of land to support the construction of community facilities through an EOI process later in August.
Six blocks of Community Facility Zoned land located in Gungahlin, Chisholm, Evatt, Kambah, Gowrie and the Molonglo Town Centre have been identified in the EOI.
A seventh block will be released in a future suburb of the Molonglo Valley as soon as practicable.
The community facilities deliver on the ‘Big Drivers’ identified in the ACT district strategies, providing essential social infrastructure to meet the needs of the community, support diversity, and strengthen community connections to create a sustainable and liveable city.
Applicants responding to the EOI will need to demonstrate community demand for the facility against those uses identified for each block, including how the community will benefit from the site and its facilities.
Organisations will also need to consider potential impacts to the surrounding area and the mitigation measures that could be employed, including limiting impacts to traffic, noise and lights, parking, and tree cover.
The initial six blocks identified sizes and their uses will be:
- Gungahlin, 4,075m2 for a Community Activity Centre or Religious Associated Use
- Chisholm, 12,284m2 for a Place of Worship, Community Activity Centre, Indoor Recreation Centre or Outdoor Activity Centre
- Evatt, 1,872m2 for a Place of Worship or Community Activity Centre
- Kambah, 1,523m2 for Community Activity Centre
- Gowrie, 1,692m2 for a Place of Worship, Community Activity Centre or Residential Aged Care
- Molonglo Town Centre*, a site between 2,000m2 and 4,000m2 for a Place of Worship*The block in the Molonglo Town Centre will be subject to a forthcoming Subdivision Design Application which will finalise the exact size and location of the block.
The seventh block which will be located in a future suburb within 'Molonglo 3', East of Whitlam, and will be subject to current planning processes with the final uses to be supported by the recently conducted Molonglo Valley Community Needs Assessment.
To find out more information about these blocks and the associated EOI process visit the ACT Planning website.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
Community facilities play an important role in keeping our communities connected and thriving. They’re places where people can come together and play, access services, worship together, and strengthen social connections with each other and their neighbourhood.
Canberra is a diverse city that continues to grow and evolve. Through this EOI process, we’re looking at community uses and places of worship that will provide opportunities for our communities, whilst also recognising the cultural and religious diversity in the territory.
More diversity of choice in places close to home means people won’t need to travel as far to have their needs met, and it will improve the health and wellbeing of all Canberrans who take advantage of these hubs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning Chris Steel:
The Statement of Planning Priorities identified that releasing land to create more community facilities as an immediate priority to support cultural, recreational and social connections in our suburbs.
More than 20 organisations, including sporting, community and multicultural and religious groups have already registered their interest with the ACT Government for the release of community land, showing there is a continued demand for space to deliver new community facilities.
I encourage community groups proposing new facilities to express their interest in these blocks and participate in this fair EOI process.
The ACT Government will also continue to undertake community needs assessments to inform further releases of community land to meet the growing and diverse needs of our community.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases
