The Canberra Liberals’ plan to deliver 125,000 new dwellings, including developing a new urban district and town centre at Kowen, if they’re successful at the October 19 ACT election.

Leader Elizabeth Lee said the target will be reached through “responsible” urban renewal, releasing more land and encouraging more housing choice.

They’ll achieve this by:

• developing Kowen as a new urban district and town centre for Canberra;
• starting development at Symonston and work with federal government to unlock former CSIRO Ginninderra land for housing development;
• accelerating land release in suburbs currently under development such as Macnamara, Whitlam and Kenny;
• auctioning all single residential blocks of land available “over the counter” owned by the Suburban Land Agency in Jacka and Whitlam with 10 per cent of those reserved for first home buyers offered at 75 per cent of market value;
• allowing separately titled dual occupancies on eligible RZ1 blocks larger than 800sqm to maximise land use in suburban zones;
• promoting mixed-use residential development in CZ2 and CZ3 retail precincts and trades areas to encourage residential development in established commercial centres;
• fast-tracking planning approvals for the proposed Thoroughbred Park redevelopment for housing and
• protecting the ecologically significant Western Edge from future development by ceasing all investigative studies of the area.

“The ACT Labor-Greens government has completely failed when it comes to providing genuine housing choice and, as a result, Canberra is in a housing crisis,” said Lee.

“An accelerated release of land will help alleviate supply issues imposed by the Labor-Greens government, make housing more affordable and increase choice for the type of home Canberrans want to live in.

“The measures announced today by the Canberra Liberals will commit 10 per cent of all new developments being reserved for social housing will allow for a mix of standalone housing, apartments, townhouses, duplexes and terraces and offer real choice for all Canberrans.

“By meeting these targets, more than $900 million in net revenue could be returned to the ACT government over the course of the term, excluding additional rates, land tax and lease variation take up.”