The Whitlam blocks that failed to sell on 10 December. Photo: SLA.
The ACT Government’s land release agency is struggling to sell major blocks, with two sites passed in at auction and now back on the market.
Developers say the Suburban Land Agency is setting prices too high and imposing too many conditions for projects to stack up, prompting the Property Council to call for it to review its approach.
The failure to move such blocks will also delay services to developing communities and impact the government’s ability to meet its housing targets.
The 1.97 hectare Whitlam Local Centre site was passed in at an auction held on 10 December 2025.
Made up of two blocks, the site is being sold under one Crown lease.*
The Watson on Aspinall site was passed in at an auction held on 13 August 2025. The 3.759ha RZ4 site has planning approval for 200 medium density homes.
It is understood that there was a buyer for the Watson site but it was handed back to the Suburban Land Agency after the auction because the sale conditions were too onerous.
Any development of the site will be guided by the Place Plan and Development Concept 2021, developed with the local community. The SLA says it aims to maximise urban heat resilience and maintain tree and landscape corridors, to protect vulnerable native species such as the Superb Parrot.
Property Council of Australia ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry says projects need to stack up. Photo: Property Council.
Developer feedback on the Whitlam site indicated that the SLA wanted too much money for the land and the projects would not be viable.
The SLA says the development will reflect the community’s vision, which was developed through a co-design process, for the Whitlam Local Centre to be a meeting place for the community.
The land is now listed for sale at $11 million, while the Watson site does not have an asking price.
Property Council of Australia ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the outcomes at both Whitlam and Watson meant the SLA must reassess whether they have the right conditions, including price, for these parcels of land.
Ms Berry said members were ready to purchase land and deliver housing and other projects across the Territory but only if the price was right and a project stacked up.
“To deliver more homes and local centres in the ACT, we need the Suburban Land Agency (SLA) to be releasing land that is appropriately priced and free of onerous conditions,” she said.
Ms Berry said developers were also facing an uncertain future in 2026, with significant new requirements including mandatory developer licensing for residential projects from 1 October.
“These latest sales outcomes may reflect the growing uncertainty about the impact of developer licensing, particularly on the external assessments required,” she said.
“We encourage the SLA to continue to engage with industry, to make sure the land releases are delivering affordability across Canberra.”
An SLA spokesperson said that there was interest in both sites prior to auction with a number of parties registered to bid on each of the sites.
“In general, sites of this size tend to attract a limited pool of bidders,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that for all auctions of SLA sites, the reserve price was informed by at least two current valuations provided by independent suitably qualified and experienced property valuers who are members of the Australian Property Institute.
The Whitlam Local Centre was now available for purchase over the counter, while the SLA was considering next steps for the Watson on Aspinall site.
In 2025, SLA offered a range of land from single residential sites to a 40-hectare site in Molonglo Valley.
“The time it takes to sell land varies depending on the size, nature and location of the site,” the spokesperson said.
*It was originally reported that the Whitlam sale included the school site. This was incorrect.
