News - Planning & development

Development of Gungahlin's newest suburb Crace will commence soon, with the first land releases due mid to late 2008, and some 1200 blocks all up over around six years.

With hundreds of families leaving recent land ballots empty-handed, perhaps there'll be scope for the Crace private developer CIC to ramp up releases in a way that the LDA seems incapable of.

But then again, the ACT Government media release that follows indicates that Crace will be a joint venture with the LDA, so maybe not! The Bovis Lend Lease - LDA joint venture in Forde was caught out radically underestimating demand for new land in ACT, and the development stalled for almost a year as plans were rushed to ACTPLA.

A key question Palmerston residents will want to put to Minister Andrew Barr at our upcoming meeting is whether Nurdurr Drive will be extended all the way to Gungahlin Drive as originally proposed. If not, the bulk of Crace traffic will be funnelled through Kosciuszko Avenue.

And another thing - Crace should receive cable internet to the kerb for every single allotment. Residents should not be like other recent LDA developments (Harrison, Franklin) - forced to maintain Telstra landlines because only ADSL is available (if they are lucky - many are not and have to tolerate dial-up!).

ACT Government media release:

LOCAL CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP SUBURB OF CRACE

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced Crace Developments Pty Ltd as the successful tenderer to develop the new Gungahlin suburb of Crace as a joint venture with the Land Development Agency.

The deemed land value paid for the land was $88.16 million. The ACT Government will also receive a 50% share in the estimated $60 million in profits from the development.

The development of the suburb is expected to generate half a billion dollars worth of economic activity in the Territory.

'I am pleased to announce that Crace Developments Pty Ltd, a consortium consisting of local developer Canberra Investment Corporation (CIC), local building firm PBS Property Group (PBS) and Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has been selected as the successful tenderer to develop Crace and help the LDA deliver another 1200-plus blocks to the market,' Mr Stanhope said.

Located in south-west Gungahlin and bounded by the Barton Highway, Gundaroo Drive, Nudurr Drive and Canberra Nature Park, Crace is close to the Gungahlin Town Centre, Belconnen and Dickson and just 9 kilometres from Civic.

'This is an exciting opportunity for the private sector to participate with the LDA to develop an estate which will showcase the latest in sustainability and urban design,' Mr Stanhope said.

'And importantly, the Crace Developments' proposal offers a range of blocks and housing options. At  least 15% of the blocks will be released for affordable housing, in line with the Government's Affordable Housing Action Plan.

'CIC has a long record of delivering quality residential places in the ACT region, and with our consortium partners DHA and PBS we are looking forward to working side by side with LDA to create a vibrant new community at Crace,' CIC's Chief Operating Officer Tony Carey said today.

'Our local base, coupled with national experience, will bring to Crace a deep appreciation of the aspirations of the Canberra community in the context of an innovative leading-edge new community.'

Mr Stanhope said the release in Crace was one of the largest undertaken by the ACT Government and reflected the Government's commitment to significant acceleration of land releases to cope with demand.
The full development of Crace will take about six years, with the first releases of land scheduled for  mid- to late-2008.