Project status: In Progress

Section 76 in north Watson lies between Aspinall Street and the Federal Highway, next to the Starlight Apartments. The site has been identified for housing, a park and open space to protect wildlife habitat.

The ACT Government is now proceeding with the preparations of an estate development plan and a new neighbourhood park. The construction of the park is expected to commence in mid 2023. Plans showing the design of the park will regularly be updated on this website and can be found here.

How you can have your say

Consultation on the estate development plan for Watson Section 76 is open from 31 July 2023 to 14 August 2023 at www.taitnetwork.com/engagement.

Pop-up stalls are being held at the following times:

  • Friday 11th August at Watson Shops from 2:30pm to 4:00pm
  • Saturday 12th August at the Watson Section 76 Site on Aspinall Street from 10:30am to 12:00pm.

In the future you will also have the opportunity to comment on the development applications for the proposed Demonstration Housing site and residential site being released by the Suburban Land Agency.

We are delivering

Section 76 is part of the ACT’s urban renewal program to help us build a compact, liveable city. The site is on the ACT’s Indicative Land Release Program. The site will include:

  • approximately 200 new dwellings to meet the 2022/23 Indicative Land Release Program, including a Demonstration Housing project (20–30 dwellings) that delivers and tests innovative housing typologies and models to increase housing choice, such as co-housing
  • a local neighbourhood park to provide Watson residents with good quality, public open space with activities for people of a range of ages, abilities and play styles
  • the retention of existing trees, which are important for wildlife and to reduce the urban heat island effect
  • natural space and trees to help reduce the urban heat effect and provide space for the community to enjoy.

Note - a pathway connection between Aspinall Street and the Federal Highway will be delivered at a future date by the developer of the Suburban Land Agency site.

How you've had YourSay so far

In 2018, you told us you wanted the development of Watson Section 76 and 74 to be sensitive to the local character of the suburb—to be sustainable, inclusive, resilient, leafy and active.

In 2021, you had your say again to help us develop the Place Plan and Development Concept to guide the development of the site. You told us what you would like to see in the neighbourhood park and walking and cycling connections to the site. The listening report outlines what we heard during the consultation.

In April 2022, after going out for public comment, planning changes recommended in the Place Plan and Development Concept were implemented through Territory Plan Variation 372.