Sites for 26,000 new homes revealed in ACT 

The territory government will release land for 26,000 homes over the next five years to meet housing targets.  

The ACT government is proposing to enable 30,000 new homes by 2030 under its National Housing Accord commitments and has laid out its strategy through the Housing Supply and Land Release program.  

Each year, alongside the release of the budget, the ACT government releases its five-year plan for the release of territory-owned land to meet growing population needs.  

Previously, this was known as a stand-alone publication called the Indicative Land Release Program, but now it forms part of the broader Housing Supply and Land Release Program.

The ACT government will release territory-owned land to enable 26,000 homes. Picture: Getty

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The latest iteration lays out a plan to enable the construction of 25,948 new homes across the ACT by 2030 through residential land releases by the government. Of those homes, 23,569 are set to be part of multi-unit buildings and 2379 will be detached dwellings.  

This will account for a predicted population growth of an extra 47,872 people by 2030.  

ACT treasurer Chris Steel delivered the news in the state’s budget on 24 June, 2025. 

“Housing is a key priority for our government in the budget. These targets will be achieved through budget investment to build more social and affordable homes, undertaking the next stages of planning reform, further land release and investment in supporting infrastructure,” Mr Steel said. 

“We will continue to progress missing middle housing reforms, as well as supporting more well-located homes close to transport, services and jobs.”

Which area will see the most building? 

The ACT is made up of nine districts and the state government has provided an indication of how much housing will be built in each one from territory-owned land releases.  

Molonglo Valley, east of Canberra, is the territory’s newest district and holds 3.4% of its total population with 16,026 people. Much of the district is still being developed with two new suburbs – Bandler and Sulman – announced last year.  

According to the ACT government, the district offers land that can cater to a range of housing types from multi-units to single dwellings to community housing.  

It is expected to see the most homes built off the back of land releases with 7612 in total over the next five years.  

Throughout the land release period, mixed-use and commercial sites will be also released for a community centre, schools and a childcare centre.

The Molonglo Valley district is expected to see the most homes from the land releases. Picture: Getty

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Gungahlin, a district north of Canberra which holds 19.5% of the ACT’s population, is expected to see 3788 new homes from land releases. A new suburb called Kenny could supply 1800 to 2500 homes across two land release stages.  

Further sites will be released in Jacka and the Gungahlin town centre, which will include a build-to-rent project.  

Belconnen, the ACT’s most populated district with 108,403 people, could see 3298 new homes created across land releases at greenfield and urban infill sites.  

Land releases are planned for Macnamara across all five years of the program for residential development and sites will be released in Strathnairn to provide commercial offerings to the local community.  

Within the Belconnen town centre, there are plans for residential and mixed-use developments.  

Within the Inner North and City district, which has a population of roughly 66,000, 2192 homes are expected from urban infill sites close to existing and future light rail connections.  

The City Centre will also see land released in the south-east of Civic for a mixed-use development opportunity.  

The Inner South district will see 3130 dwellings created from land releases, including from mixed-use sites. According to the government, opportunities exist at the Kingston Foreshore, Kingston Arts precinct and East Lake. 

Woden Valley, south of Canberra, could see 3420 homes built through land releases.  

Infrastructure investment is expected to drive this development activity with projects such as the new Woden CIT Campus supporting up to 6500 students each year.

Meanwhile, the extension of Canberra’s light rail line through to Woden could also provide for urban development potential along the corridor.  

Further south of Canberra is Tuggeranong, which will see 993 new homes built on land released in Gowrie and Richardson.  

Weston Creek, southwest of Canberra, could be home to 800 new dwellings over the next five years, starting with a community use site in Chapman.  

East Canberra, the territory’s smallest district which serves as mainly an industrial area, will see a small number of sites released in Oaks Estate for mixed-use and residential use. 

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