An artist’s impression of the proposed 30-dwelling public housing development in Yarralumla. Image: Collins Pennington.
A proposed ACT Government public housing project in Yarralumla will proceed after the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld the Territory Planning Authority’s approval.
Two residents, Les Landau and John Hutchison, had sought a review of the August 2024 approval of the 30-unit project, seeking to reduce the number of units and include a basement car park to preserve more green space.
The $6 million, two-storey project will replace the old Solander Court public housing complex at 2 Schlich Street, which has been sitting derelict for more than four years.
The site will become denser, rising from a dozen units to 30 one (18), two (10) and three-bedroom (2) units with courtyards.
The Yarralumla Residents Association did not oppose the development but assisted nearby residents with their concerns, which included the increased density and size, traffic and parking, loss of trees, the resumption of a south-facing ungazetted park and a lack of consultation.
President Peter Pharoah said at the time that the YRA had always supported appropriate, salt-and-pepper public housing that blended in with the landscape, but was disappointed in the time it had taken for the government to do something about the abandoned site.
The government has cited cases like this as justification for its pending legislation to expedite public housing projects by designating them as Territory Priority Projects, effectively banning third-party appeals to ACAT.
A Legislative Assembly committee is currently inquiring into the Planning (Territory Priority Project) Amendment Bill 2025.
ACAT did add conditions to the approval, but these pertained to ensuring the project met accessibility and lighting requirements.
Both Mr Landau and Mr Hutchison stated that they did not oppose public housing; however, Mr Landau suggested that the project, in its current form, should be rejected and redesigned with a far lower density, retaining the existing open space and all mature trees on site.
He said the proposed new density, with up to 88 residents living there, was a “huge increase” that would be inconsistent with the streetscape and density in Yarralumla.
The 37 parking places were “clearly inadequate”, and some residents would need to park on the neighbouring streets, adding to congestion, restricting parking for local residents, and creating a safety hazard.
Mr Landau also called for the project to be redesigned so units would back onto Solander Place, with their courtyards to the north, and the only access being the main driveways.
However, ACAT found that the density level was compliant and stated that the actual 45 parking spaces for residents and eight for visitors were adequate.
It found that the pocket of green space the pair sought to retain was part of the site, not a public park, and residents would have their own courtyards, as well as two communal areas.
It noted that the 35 per cent site coverage was lower than the 45 per cent permitted for multi-unit housing in RZ1 and RZ2, and that it was a low-rise development.
“Even if the development were of a greater density than that of the surrounding residential houses, that would not be a reason to reject it,” ACAT said.
“If it were, this would preclude the approval of many social housing developments.”
ACAT accepted unchallenged evidence that a maximum of 27 trips in the morning peak was expected on Solander Place after the development was completed and that the functional operating capacity of the street was 100 vehicles per hour.
