An aerial shot of City Hill and surrounds before the raising of London Circuit. Block 1, Section 116 is the car park to the left of City Hill. Photo: ACT Government.
The ACT Government is seeking development options for a key city car park once slated for a convention centre and entertainment pavilion.
The 2.4-hectare car park opposite Constitution Place and fronting Vernon Circle (Block 1, Section 116) was originally touted for the Australia Forum convention centre project. As late as 2023, the government was considering a combined convention centre and entertainment pavilion for the site in what it called an elegant solution to the national capital’s need for such facilities.
The combined proposal is now to be developed on the nearby Civic Pool site when the new aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park is delivered.
Design consultancy Architectus has been given the job in a $411,000 contract to provide at least three master plans and development ideas for Block 1, Section 116, which will have sweeping views to Lake Burley Griffin, Federal Parliament and the Brindabellas.
The site is due for release under the ACT’s Indicative Land Release program in 2025-26.
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City Renewal Authority (CRA) CEO Craig Gillman said it was envisaged the site would provide a mix of uses but mainly residential with five separate buildings up to 13 storeys tall delivering a maximum to 742 homes.
Mr Gillman said it was important for such a site to have a variety of buildings and not a massive built form.
The building height will mirror that of the cloverleaf site opposite – to be developed by the Capital Property Group – but it must be a quality development with aesthetic appeal and high sustainability features.
“It is an absolute gateway site, right there on Vernon Circle as you come off Northbourne and head across the lake towards Parliament,” Mr Gillman said.
“So it’s really important and it’ll be very prominent in view lines as people head north on Commonwealth Avenue as well.”
The 2.4-hectare car park site opposite Constitution Place will have sweeping views of the lake and Brindabellas. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
He said it was essential for the site to have a significant residential component.
“The city needs residents to make it more dynamic, have people going out supporting cafes, bars, so having that residential population is really important for the city.”
Mr Gillman said Architectus would be investigating feasibility, master planning, design principles and the desired sustainability features such as canopy coverage, permeable surfaces and solar access.
He said connectivity to what surrounded the site was also important – to the lake, light rail, City Hill and the proposed convention centre and entertainment precinct on the pool site
“It’s really how that ground plane works, particularly to allow people to walk through and have a good experience as they walk through it.”
How the sale will be run is yet to be decided but it’s likely to follow the two-stage expression of interest process used for the cloverleaf site.
“The benefit of a two-stage process is you get a short list to invest more time on developing the design and the response to sustainability, whereas you can’t do that in a one-stage process where you’ve got 15 or 20 potential applicants,” Mr Gillman said.
In accordance with the National Capital Authority’s National Capital Plan, adequate public car parking spaces will be required as part of any development of the land.
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The CRA has also identified the car park next to Canberra Museum and Gallery (opposite the Sydney Building), or Block 23 Section 19, for release in 2025-26.
The site is not expected to include residential given the land is within the Canberra Civic and Cultural District and close to the Canberra Theatre and other night-time entertainment.
Hotels, offices, cultural facilities, community spaces, retail shops and food and beverage establishments are being considered.
Architectus is due to finalise its work in December in preparation for release of the land to market.
