Local MPs David Smith (left) and Andrew Leigh (right), Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and Chief Minister Andrew Barr at Canberra Railway Station for the announcement today. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The first land releases for the East Lake Railway Precinct urban renewal program could be underway by 2027, following a $2.8 million Commonwealth commitment to planning and design work for the area, which is slated to support 5000 dwellings.
The funding is being provided under the Australian Government’s $150 million Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP) and builds on the Barr Government’s $3 million investment in planning, engagement, design and tendering to shape the precinct’s future.
In addition to new multi-unit housing, the Kingston precinct is also expected to be home to new businesses that will support more than a thousand jobs across commercial, technology and service industries.
Community and cultural facilities are planned for the former landfill area in the north-west corner of the site.
Speaking at the funding announcement at Canberra Railway Station, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said a new railway station, promised at the 2024 election, would be integral to the redevelopment as part of a multi-modal transport hub for Canberra.
Mr Barr said it was time for renewal of the NSW-owned railway station, which was unbefitting of the national capital, and for it to be better integrated into the new precinct.
“Under the partnership with the Commonwealth government under this fantastic program, we’ll see the next stages of work completed, and enable construction to commence on a number of residential, commercial and industrial projects,” he said.
The East Lake urban renewal area. Photo: ACT Government.
Mr Barr said the government would like to see the master planning work completed in the next 18 to 24 months, after which land could be released.
He stated that a significant amount of work had been accomplished through the East Lake renewal process, but a major plan amendment would still need to be passed in the Legislative Assembly.
The ACT would engage with the Housing Australia Future Fund on a community housing component, and the private sector would be keen on development opportunities in the precinct, Mr Barr said.
“I have no doubt that there’s going to be a lot of interest in this, but we do need to complete the planning stages, get the major plan amendment through, and then we’re underway,” he said.
The first land releases in East Lake are expected in the Causeway precinct in 2026-27.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the planning work was crucial to achieving the right outcome in these urban renewal projects – decent, connected suburbs for people to live in and work in.
“The Urban Precincts and Partnerships program is very much about urban redesign, reuse of areas, trying to make sure those areas are often in inner city suburbs that really need unlocking, both for housing, for new community facilities, for new sporting facilities,” Ms King said.
She said the planning work would also include remediation assessment.
“You’ve got the Jerrabomberra Wetlands here as well, which is a really sensitive and beautiful area that will need protection, but that’s what master planning allows you to do,” she said.
Mr Barr said that ultimately the market would decide what the housing mix would be, but “more diversity is always a good thing”.
He expected that there would also be a combination of public, community and build-to-rent housing, as well as accommodation for key workers.
According to the East Lake Place Plan, the Railway Precinct would include a mix of commercial, residential and public buildings, mostly ranging from four to six storeys, but with eight-storey marker developments in strategic locations.
Mr Barr said the construction of housing and a new station would occur at the same time.
“I think they need to come hand in hand,” he said.
“We want to see a multi-modal transport hub here. It’s on a major rapid bus route. It’s where the train from Sydney comes in. I think we can do better, and the NSW Government acknowledges we can do better.”
Mr Barr said NSW had a significant railway station redevelopment program and had a lot of experience in this area.
“So we want to work with them, and the private sector,” he said.
Project participants will be the Suburban Land Agency, NSW Government, developers, the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust, and the Canberra Institute of Technology.
