GCC president Henley Samuel in a quiet town centre. Photos: Ian Bushnell.
The Gungahlin community is crying out for government intervention to attract employers and develop an entertainment precinct, a new survey has found.
Gungahlin Community Council president Henley Samuel says the 2025 survey has provided some robust data to mount cases to both the Federal and ACT Governments for assistance to attract new businesses and government agencies to the fast-growing district.
Mr Samuel said the emphasis on residential development had turned the district into a dormitory with 91 per cent of workers commuting to other areas of Canberra.
With 1320 responses and a ±2.5% margin of error, the council said the survey is one of the most statistically robust community consultations ever conducted in the ACT.
At the top of the list is a call for more economic development, with 82.8 per cent of respondents believing the ACT Government should implement targeted strategies to attract commercial businesses.
Infrastructure delays were also a significant concern, including the stalled cinema project. Entertainment services topped commercial amenity requests at 67.3 per cent, underscoring the need for more leisure activities and a vibrant night-time economy, the council says.
While light rail provides a direct link to the city, the survey revealed transport gaps in other areas. With so many workers commuting, 74.1 per cent support a trial rapid bus service linking Gungahlin to major employment hubs, including Woden, Brindabella Business Park and Tuggeranong.
Pressures on the area’s roads have been a bugbear for years, and the addition of new suburbs is exacerbating the problem.
It was therefore no surprise that concerns about the arterial roads were prominent, with 24.1 per cent calling for the duplication of Horse Park Drive, 22.9 per cent for Gungahlin Drive, and 24.8 per cent wanting a Barton Highway flyover at the Gundaroo Drive intersection.
Healthcare is also a concern, with more than 70 per cent of respondents believing services are inadequate, and 46.3 per cent calling for expanded services and a dedicated local hospital.
Dangerous driving and hooning were the top safety concerns (59.7%), while 43.1 per cent want increased police visibility on their streets.
Mr Henley said Gungahlin needed more locally based businesses and jobs, and government could help with location incentives, the establishment of a mini-business park and assistance for local start-ups.
The Commonwealth should also consider Gungahlin if any agency leases were up for renewal.
“There are opportunities everywhere,” Mr Henley said.
“They just need to show some interest. They’re not proactively making any policy to attract or promote business here.”
Mr Samuel said in the long term, there was potential for a Silicon Valley-type development in Gungahlin.
Light rail isn’t enough, the survey found.
He said the cinema delay was a major frustration and symptomatic of Gungahlin’s entertainment gap.
“You’ve got a young population, so it would be critical to have these kinds of entertainment venues,” Mr Samuel said.
He wondered how long the developer could hold on to the land without doing anything, but said it should not be handed over to even more residential development.
The council would also be pressing for a peak-time rapid bus trial to gauge demand for such a service and pick up those who are not currently using light rail but drive, as well as continuing to lobby for road upgrades.
Mr Henley said there was lingering resentment about the decision to site the new hospital in Bruce, given that healthcare services were already struggling.
He said Gungahlin could still be a site for some specialty care services.
The survey also highlighted an information and communication gap, with 88.3 per cent wanting more community consultation on major infrastructure projects.
The council will be urging greater transparency and community involvement in the planning process.
The survey results have been shared with local MLAs and members.
Mr Henley said they needed to take the results seriously, and he was optimistic that they would understand the community’s needs.
To learn more about the survey, visit the Gungahlin Community Council.
