We are seeking your input to help shape a connected, sustainable, and diverse new suburb, Kenny.

Kenny, named after the pioneering Australian health practitioner, Elizabeth Kenny, will set a new benchmark for liveability in Canberra – with a focus on eco-friendly design, diverse housing options, Ngunnawal culture, nature and water connections and community infrastructure.

The suburb is included in the ACT Government Indicative Land Release Program with initial releases from the 2026-27 financial year. In time the suburb is expected to be home to more than 4,000 residents.

We are asking for your feedback and ideas on the Kenny Place Vision. This includes feedback on the following seven key themes:

• Closely Connected: Easy access to amenities, nature, and jobs
• Sustainable: Eco-friendly and climate-wise design
• Diverse: A variety of housing options for different needs
• Ngunnawal Culture: Respecting and honouring Ngunnawal culture and Country
• Nature: Strong connections to nature and water
• Social Infrastructure: Key amenities and services for residents
• Village Feel: A village centre of shops, cafes and community spaces

There are many ways to get involved:

Entries by ACT Government employees, immediate family members of an ACT Government employee (siblings, children and family living under the same roof) or a person who is directly involved in the promotion will not be eligible to enter the draw. Click here for the full T&Cs.

Kenny is nestled between the inner north suburb of Watson and the Gungahlin suburb of Harrison. As such, it is a well located, central suburb for north Canberra, adjacent to nature reserves and easily accessible to many parts of Canberra.

The adjacent Nadjung Mada Nature Reserve was established in 2021 to preserve and enhance native wildlife and box gum woodland in the area. Nadjung Mada means 'wet-land' in Ngunnawal language. Both Nadjung Mada and the Sullivans Creek Catchment are near the future suburb. Both sites hold great cultural and environmental significance and will be integrated thoughtfully into the future design.

The 155-hectare suburb is bounded by Wells Station Drive to the north, Horse Park Drive to the east and Federal Highway to the south.

In delivering Kenny we seek to:

• Provide a variety of housing options for Canberra's growing population and diverse needs.
• Offer an attractive lifestyle balancing urban convenience with access to nature reserves and public transport links.
• Create a thriving, sustainable community that respects the culture of the Ngunnawal people while reflecting the aspirations of future residents.

We're committed to a collaborative design process for Kenny and have already begun working closely with the First Nations community to understand the Country and narrative of this specific site to support practical steps to implement connecting with Country principles into the project. Key themes identified include: Water, resilience and memory; Journeys through Country; Knowledge sharing; The spiritual landscape; Ongoing programming; Caring for non-human kin; Health and healing.

We will continue to engage with local First nations community members as the design of Kenny progresses.

Engagement was carried out by the ACT Government to inform planning for the Shirley Smith High School in 2023.

Extensive consultation for the Territory Plan 2023 helped guide the creation of the Gungahlin District Strategy which will guide how Gungahlin will change and grow towards 2038 and beyond to 2050. Kenny is identified as a Category 1 Change Area within the District Strategy, where change could occur within the next 0-5 years.

The Suburban Land Agency has recently engaged with First Nations peoples on Kenny to gain a deep understanding of the sites’ associated stories, values, and significance to inform cultural design principles for the future development, ensuring it responds harmoniously to and promotes the wellbeing of Ngunnawal Country and community. This engagement has informed a guiding Framework for Kenny.

Your feedback will help us understand community views on our initial Kenny Place Vision, whether it meets the needs and desires of future residents, and how we might make the vision a reality. A place vision is developed early in the site development process and highlights the unique qualities of the site, builds understanding of the existing and future people it will benefit and defines aspirations and core principles of the place.

It will inform a detailed masterplan reflecting community priorities, including aspects like housing options, public spaces, and connections to surrounding areas. We will use your feedback to realise the design of Kenny. The design will form the basis of a plan to progress the development of the suburb in 2025.