Newly released documents show the extent of the ACT Government’s intentions for the CSIRO Ginninderra Experiment Station site. Photo: CSIRO.
A scoping study of the CSIRO Ginninderra land shows the ACT Government was in an advanced state of preparedness for developing both stages of the 700 hectare site, not just the smaller section for which it is now negotiating.
The November 2021 due diligence study by Tait Network provided three development options and site analysis, including constraints, land use, transport and services, community facilities, school, block mix, density and housing yields of up to 8650 dwellings.
The documents, with some redactions, were supplied on Monday by Housing, Homelessness and New Homes Minister Yvette Berry in response to a question on notice from Independent MLA Thomas Emerson.
In 2023, the Suburban Land Agency (SLA) used the documents to brief Senator David Pocock’s office, jointly with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The study also shows an indicative Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (now the City and Environment Directorate) plan for the site from 2018.
Senator Pocock has been agitating for the Commonwealth and the ACT to get the land deal done.
Talks between the ACT and the Commonwealth to acquire the land in Canberra’s north stretch back more than a decade but in July this year Finance Minister Katy Gallagher confirmed that a sale had been approved.
But negotiations have dragged on with no result in sight.
In September, Ms Berry revealed in the Legislative Assembly that the ACT was only negotiating to secure the smaller 240 ha Stage 1, which she called Ginninderra East.
This was contrary to what all stakeholders had been led to believe.
On Wednesday, an ACT Government spokesperson said: “The Territory continues to progress discussions with CSIRO in respect to their proposed divestment of Ginninderra East.”
The Tait study shows a maximum yield of only 2984 homes for Ginninderra East.
The highest yield scenario land use map for the site. Image: Tait Network.
Mr Emerson said it appeared that consideration of new suburbs on the site had been under way for a long time and with quite an extensive level of detail.
He remained baffled why a business case had not yet been developed.
“It’s confusing to me that on most recent accounts we’ve been told the Cabinet still hasn’t received a business case for the project, despite the fact that this level of analysis was available more than two years ago,” he said.
“What are we waiting for?”
Mr Emerson said it was disappointing that there was no commitment to get a deal done by the end of the year, given how long it had dragged on.
It was also disappointing that the scope had narrowed to just the first stage, not the entire site, he said.
“We can only speculate, is it because the ACT government can’t afford the entire site? Is it because CSIRO wants to landbank part of it, which presumably will become more valuable once the other half has been developed?” Mr Emerson said.
Mr Emerson slammed the lack of urgency on the issue and the opaque nature of the negotiations, with no-one outlining the sticking points.
“People across our community are saying they don’t have secure housing,” he said.
“It’s massively impacting their life prospects and also has a serious impact on government services, so there’s a cost implication for the ACT Government because of not moving more quickly to address the housing crisis.”
Mr Emerson said the Tait study squared with recent ACT Government suburban planning, with more compact blocks and higher density than that in established suburbs, using as much space as possible for housing.
He said it would be a unique and popular location where housing could be nestled within a beautiful landscape.
But it was unclear how much public and community housing would be included on the site.
“I think many Canberrans will be interested in that this location is relatively central, compared to some of the other new new suburbs in the ACT,” Mr Emerson said.
“So it could be expensive if there isn’t sufficient provision for subsidised housing, to ensure that families, young people, students, and essential workers can afford this.”
ACT Liberal Senate candidate Nick Tyrrell urged Senator Gallagher to intervene, saying the deal would have a big impact on Canberra’s housing supply and keep a lid on prices.
“Where is it up to and why is it stalled and when is she going to make it happen?” he said.
“That could release thousands of new homes for Canberrans.”
