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Seventeen new suburbs for Molonglo

The ACT Government is proceeding with the next stage of planning for Molonglo - the ACT's next major community - the Minister for Planning Andrew Barr, announced today.

Molonglo, identified for potential urban development in the 2004 Canberra Spatial Plan, is located to the west of central Canberra, between Belconnen and Weston Creek. Up to 73,000 people are expected to live in about 33,000 homes in the area (including 17 new suburbs), which includes North Weston, from about 2009/2010 onwards, although full development will not be achieved for up to 40 years.

"Molonglo, along with Gungahlin, is a priority for the Government and will increase Canberra's land supply and provide more affordable housing," Mr Barr said.

"Molonglo, including North Weston, is being planned to set a new standard in suburb design and development. It will achieve greater energy efficiency, higher water efficiency and quality, and better links to open spaces and transport. Houses will have minimum five-star energy ratings.

"Residents will be linked to north, south and central Canberra, needing to travel only about 7.5km to Belconnen, Woden and Civic"

Mr Barr said the major structural elements proposed for the area included a choice of housing types, ecological corridors and reserves, walkable neighbourhoods, group centre and local centres and neighbourhood activity areas.

"East Molonglo (including North Weston) and Central Molonglo would be primarily residential and mixed-use, while West Molonglo is identified for peri-urban (broadacre) development such as agriculture, educational establishments, animal care facilities, defence installations, scientific research establishments, community activity centres, emergency services facilities, health facilities, places of worship, a nature conservation area or parkland."

Mr Barr said technical studies and community consultation completed over the past few years had helped to determine the configuration, nature and scale of urban development.

"The Molonglo River corridor will be an important ecological and recreational resource for the community. Significant native woodland and grassland communities and heritage sites in the valley will be protected. Light pollution and interference to the Mount Stromlo Observatory will be minimised," he said.

"In response to environmental concerns, the area closer to Belconnen due to be developed in about 15 years, will be subject to a major environmental study before development goes ahead."

The ACT Government and National Capital Authority are expected to release draft variations to the Territory and National Capital Plan at the end of August which will enable development to go ahead.

For more Molonglo news, photos, places and businesses visit the Molonglo Home Page.

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Issued: Tue Jul 31 19:47:19 EST []

Reference-id: NEWS11466 2