Canberra Council Fast-Tracks Transport Plan, Approves Gungahlin Precinct Overhaul

Canberra's local government has moved swiftly to advance two major projects that will reshape the capital's urban landscape, with the ACT Legislative Assembly approving an expedited transport infrastructure plan and council signing off on a sweeping redevelopment of Gungahlin's commercial precinct.

On Tuesday, the Assembly unanimously passed the integrated transport strategy, which prioritises rapid bus corridors along Northbourne Avenue and extends light rail feasibility studies toward Dickson and Belconnen. The decision accelerates a timeline previously scheduled for 2027, responding to growing congestion concerns and population projections showing the ACT reaching 550,000 residents by 2040.

"This isn't just about moving vehicles," a spokesperson for the ACT Government said. "It's about creating liveable communities where people don't spend hours in traffic." The plan allocates $45 million toward bus rapid transit infrastructure over the next three years.

The second major development came Thursday when the Canberra City Council approved the $180 million Gungahlin Town Centre renewal, unlocking mixed-use development across 12 hectares between Hibberson Street and Gundaroo Drive. The precinct will feature 850 new apartments, retail spaces, and a 2,500-capacity community hub, with construction expected to commence by mid-2027.

Local business groups have reacted cautiously to both announcements. The Canberra Business Chamber noted that while transport improvements are essential, the Gungahlin development's density—targeting 150 residents per hectare—will require careful management of parking and local services. Current Gungahlin has approximately 35,000 residents, with that figure projected to jump 40 percent within a decade.

Parking remains contentious. The Gungahlin precinct design includes 1.2 spaces per apartment, lower than the 1.5 standard that sparked community debate during the Woden Town Centre upgrade three years ago. Developers argue sustainability goals and public transport access justify the reduction, but Gungahlin residents' associations have requested additional street-level parking studies.

Separately, the Assembly approved a $12 million heritage preservation fund addressing deteriorating buildings in Braddon, Ainslie, and Red Hill—neighbourhoods increasingly targeted by heritage-conscious developers seeking character conversions rather than demolition.

The council will hold community consultation sessions on both projects at the Gungahlin Community Centre and Dickson Pool Complex throughout July, with feedback shaping final designs before tender processes begin in October.

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