Master Plan Implementation

Site investigations

Site investigations are currently underway in the Kippax Group Centre to guide the design of a future community building.

Geotechnical and environmental test drilling and excavations are scheduled from Monday 6 March 2023 for four weeks, weather permitting.

Investigations will be in the area between Hardwick Crescent, Kippax Library, Kippax Fair and the bus stop. Areas of the surrounding open space will need to be temporarily fenced off for community safety at times during the investigations.

The Kippax Library, bus stop, playground and local businesses in the area will remain accessible.


About the Kippax group centre project

The Kippax Group Centre in Holt is changing to meet the needs of the community. Extensive community engagement from 2014 to 2019 informed the master plan for the Kippax Group Centre, setting the vision to guide commercial and residential expansion of the centre and public realm upgrades over time.

The master plan and supporting amendments to the Holt Precinct Map and Code respond to the community’s need for better services and public spaces in the centre, and to develop our city in a compact and efficient way, making a more sustainable city for now and into the future.

Key recommendations of the master plan included:

  • establishing the centre’s role as a future major public transport hub
  • providing new opportunities for retail expansion, including mixed-use development across the centre
  • encouraging street-based activity, through centre structure and built environment
  • creating a community hub for the centre, by co-locating community facilities with the existing Kippax Library
  • creating meeting places, where people can linger and socialise
  • improving pedestrian and cycling connections to and within the centre, to encourage active travel
  • managing car parking within the centre, to provide for economic efficiencies and improved access through the car park areas, and
  • promoting ecological enhancements, such as additional large tree plantings and integrated water cycle management for public spaces.

For more information on the background including the community consultation outcomes of the master plan, please visit the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s website.

What is happening now and how can I get involved?

The ACT Government is delivering changes and improvements at the Kippax Group Centre in line with the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan, in consultation with key stakeholders and the community.

In 2023 ACT Government is delivering:

  • construction of sportsgrounds and associated infrastructure on the corner of Moyes Crescent and Starke Street
  • design of a community hub building in consultation with the community
  • design of a skate park with key stakeholders.

The community will be invited to have their say on the community hub in 2023. The skate park will be designed with key stakeholders initially, with broader community consultation to be undertaken subject to budget processes for construction. Community feedback in 2022 has also informed the design of streetscape improvements on Hardwick Crescent and Luke Street.

Two sites in the centre are in different stages of the re-development process to provide new housing, commercial and job opportunities close to existing services (see below). The community will have further opportunity to have their say on the design of these sites through future development application processes.

Block 71 Section 51 Holt

This key site identified in the master plan is being prepared for release to facilitate expansion of the commercial group centre, with integrated housing including affordable housing opportunities.

The ACT Government is conducting a two-staged competitive sales process for the site. The first stage was completed as an Expression of Interest (EOI) process in 2021. The purpose of the EOI was to test market interest for retail and mixed-use development opportunities in the Kippax Group Centre and to seek respondents that were willing to commit to providing meaningful community engagement on their development proposal should they be successful through the second stage.

The second stage of the sales process will commence pending the outcomes of ongoing site investigations. The community will be able to review and comment on future development proposals through future development application processes.

Block 5 Section 53 Holt

The site was sold on 30 June 2022 for a mixed-use development as part of implementing the master plan. The developer will be required to undertake community consultation on the development application.

Concept design and community consultation

As part of the planning and community engagement outcomes in the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan, an opportunity for a new community building was identified adjacent to the Kippax Library (Part Block 5 Section 88 Holt).

In 2023 the community and key stakeholders will have the opportunity to have their say on the future building. Community and stakeholder views, along with the outcomes of further planning and site investigations, will be used to shape the location, design and function of the future facility. The design of any proposed new building will also need to consider bus facilities, public spaces and other buildings. This webpage will be updated with dates and details of the upcoming community engagement activities.

The detailed design and construction of the community building and associated infrastructure are subject to site suitability investigations, a future development application (and community consultation), and ACT Government budget processes.

Site investigations

Geotechnical and environmental investigations are anticipated to be carried out on part Block 5 Section 88 Holt in early 2023 to inform the design and future construction of the community building. Areas near the playground and open space adjacent to the Kippax Library may need to be temporarily fenced off at times to maintain community safety while machinery is on site. Site signage will be used to inform the community prior to works commencing.

Kippax Skate Park

ACT Government will carry out targeted consultation with a range of user groups (skate, BMX and scooter associations) on the detailed design of the replacement skate facility. Broader community consultation may be undertaken in future stages of the project, pending future budget processes.

While the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan shows an indicative location for the skate park, further work will be conducted to determine the most suitable location.

The design will consider a range of age groups and abilities, safety, integration with surrounding developments, impacts on nearby residents and costs.

Kippax Playing Fields

With the future sale and mixed-use redevelopment of Block 71 Section 51 Holt, replacement playing fields are being delivered to reactivate an area of open space on the corner of Moyes Crescent and Starke Street adjoining the Holt District Playing Fields. The location of the reactivated playing fields was identified in the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan in consultation with the community.

Work has commenced to upgrade the playing fields and supporting infrastructure. The project is anticipated to be ready for public use in the first half of 2023, subject to construction processes.

This work builds on the recently completed $1.85m Higgins Oval Upgrades that included new sports fields, irrigation, lighting, turf and a pavilion for local sports clubs and the community.

Hardwick Crescent west public space improvements

The Hardwick Crescent public space improvements project is underway. For more information, please visit this site: https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/hardwick-crescent-public-space-improvements.

Previous Engagement

Kippax Group Centre

Extensive community consultation was undertaken from 2014 to 2019 to prepare a master plan for the Kippax group centre that sets a vision to guide growth and development in the centre over time. The master plan addresses contemporary issues such as developing a compact and efficient and sustainable city for now and into the future. Territory Plan Variation number 361 followed the master plan in 2020 by setting the statutory planning provisions for commercial and residential expansion of the centre and the associated public realm upgrades.

Expression of Interest

The ACT Government is now undertaking the first stage of a competitive sales process for part Section 51 Holt.

This process will commence with an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for 8 weeks from 28 May – 25 July 2021. Depending on the outcomes of the EOI, a second stage such as a Request for Tender process may be undertaken. Respondents can lodge their response to the EOI at tenders.act.gov.au.

The EOI process is seeking respondents to commit to providing broader community benefits and to undertake meaningful community engagement on their development proposal.

The land, shown as purple in the map below, is earmarked in the master plan for commercial and mixed-use development, which could include residential use.

Map of site for future development
Aerial view of Kippax group centre, with part Section 51, Holt, marked in purple

The community will be informed of the outcomes after the sales process.

If the process results in a successful purchaser, then community will have the opportunity to comment on a future development proposal of the land through the established statutory processes, including pre-development application consultation by a developer. A development application for this site would also likely require public notification of a proposal for the land.

A development application and associated community consultation is not expected to commence earlier than 2022.

While there are currently no plans to demolish buildings for part Section 51 Holt, demolition of the existing, ageing health building, toilets, and storage areas may be needed to make way for redevelopment on the site. The demolition of the old health building on Block 22 Section 51 Holt will depend on the outcome of a heritage nomination. Please see FAQs for more information on the heritage nomination of the old health building.

The community will also be invited to have their say on the detailed design of any new community facilities or upgrades to public places as the centre continues to grow.

More on the Kippax group centre master plan process

The Kippax Group Centre Master Plan, finalised in 2019, was prepared in response to actions outlined in the 2012 ACT Planning Strategy and is consistent with the recommendations in the 2018 refreshed ACT Planning Strategy. These actions include the need to: investigate opportunities for urban intensification for the centre; to ensure everyone has access to a range of facilities, services and opportunities for social interaction; and to encourage active travel to and from the centre.

The centre provides a diverse range of services and facilities for its surrounding suburbs, as well as the more recent growth generated by increased residential development in west Macgregor.

In 2020, Territory Plan Variation 361 implemented key recommendations from the Kippax Group Centre Master Plan. The variation changed land uses to provide for more community facilities and for the future expansion of the centre to the east over part of the Holt District Playing Fields.

Key recommendations

Key recommendations of the master plan, as indicated in Map 1, include:

  • establishing the centre’s role as a future major public transport hub
  • providing new opportunities for retail expansion, including mixed-use development across the centre
  • encouraging street based activity, through centre structure and built environment
  • creating a community hub for the centre, by co-locating community facilities with the existing Kippax Library
  • creating active meeting places, where people can linger and socialise
  • improving pedestrian and cyclists connections to and within the centre, to encourage active travel
  • managing car parking within the centre, to provide for economic efficiencies and improved access through the car park areas, and
  • promoting ecological enhancements, such as additional large tree plantings and integrated water cycle management for public spaces.

Key issues

Preparation of the master plan included extensive community engagement, background research and analysis. The key issues identified for the centre included:

  • Establishing a central hub with new community facilities, play space, trees and cafes next to the Kippax Library is supported.
  • Retail expansion over part of the existing Holt Playing Fields to the east of Kippax Fair is supported.
  • There is a need to improve cycling and walking infrastructure to cater for all ages and abilities.
  • The existing skate ramp is used regularly and is highly valued.
  • Convenient and accessible car parking in the central areas of the centre is highly valued.
  • The potential increase of urban heat island effect created by new development is of concern.
  • The potential increased volume and safety of traffic around the centre is of concern.
  • Land release of a number of Territory owned blocks.
  • Capital works for public domain upgrades to be considered in context of future budget funding.
  • Uptake of opportunities by private sector and the community.