Project status: Closed

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.

In 2021, the community helped the government develop the Place Plan and Development Concept, which will guide future development on the site.

Planning changes recommended in the Place Plan and Development Concept were implemented through Territory Plan Variation 372, which was approved in April 2022. The ACT Government is now proceeding with the preparations of an estate development plan and a new neighbourhood park. The construction of the park will commence in early 2023.

Plans showing the design of the park will regularly be updated on this website and can be found here.

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 that help 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
  • a pathway connection between Aspinall Street and the Federal Highway for the community
  • the retention of existing trees, which are important for wildlife
  • natural space and trees to help reduce the urban heat effect and provide space for the community to enjoy.

How you can have your say

Further community consultation will be undertaken for the Estate Development Plan and future of the site, including for the Demonstration Housing site, through future Development Application processes.

How you've had YourSay so far

In 2021, you helped 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 on the consultation is in the document library.

You also had your say on the draft Territory Plan Variation 372, which is now in place.

The development of the Place Plan and Development Concept followed consultation in 2018, when you told us you wanted the development to be sensitive to the local character of the suburb—to be sustainable, inclusive, resilient, leafy and active.