Plans for next stage of Denman Prospect unveiled

The next stage of Denman Prospect in the Molonglo Valley will have 839 dwellings in a mix of standalone homes, apartments and townhouses, a site for a school and a feature park.

Canberra Airport’s development arm Capital Estate Developments has unveiled the proposed Estate Development Plan on Blocks 11 and 12, Section 1, for public consultation before submitting it for approval.

To be called Stromlo Reach, the new stage on the northern side of Cravens Creek between Holborow Avenue and Uriarra Road will provide 310 blocks for development as well as open space.

It includes Stage 3 of CED’s Build-to-Rent project The Borough, more than half of which will be affordable, charging 75 per cent of the market rate.

Director of project delivery Nick McDonald Crowley said The Borough would provide about 700 units overall with about 400 fitting into the affordable category.

Mr McDonald Crowley said the development applications for the first two stages were close to being approved.

He said about 500 of the dwellings planned for Stromlo Reach would be either standalone homes or semi-detached properties such as terraces and townhouses.

An exciting part of the plans was the treatment given to Cravens Creek, including water quality ponds to be built in front of the shops and the regional park.

“The Ridgeline Park is pretty significant for us at the top of the hill, but we wanted to get more in around the shops and community centre,” he said.

“We have partial approval for a younger kids’ playground, toilet facilities and the picnic area, then after that we’ll build the water quality control ponds and the bigger kids’ play equipment on the other side of the creek near the school.”

The Education Directorate would decide who operated the school site, but Mr McDonald Crowley said CED would build the school oval at its cost, recognising the demand for sport and recreation space.

The project webpage says most of the proposed Estate will be within Block 11, which is to be divided into several residential zones – RZ1 (suburban), RZ4 (medium-density residential) and RZ5 (high-density residential) blocks, as well as a Community Facilities Zone block for the future school.

There will also be various PRZ1 (urban open spaces) blocks for parks, including the feature park with playgrounds, recreational facilities and amenities such as toilets and car parking.

The ACT Land and Planning Authority is already considering an Environmental Impact Assessment for Block 11.

Block 12 will include sections of road, about six medium-density residential blocks near Holborow Avenue, small parts of multi-unit blocks, including Stage 3 of the Borough, and areas of open space.

It is subject to an s211 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) exemption and is proposed to be zoned NUZ3 – Hills Ridges and Buffers space, as well as elements of RZ1 and RZ5.

The Estate layout includes the street network, public transport, walking and cycling routes, environment protection works based on the EIS, and services and infrastructure.

A 60-metre-wide Asset Protection Zone at the edge of the development will be in place to provide a buffer against bushfires.

For every tree removed, about eight new trees will be planted and native tree trunks will be relocated into nearby bushland to provide homes for fauna.

CED expects construction to commence at the end of 2023, subject to approvals, with works staged over several years.

Convenor of the Molonglo Valley Community Forum Ryan Hemsley said including community facilities in the new stage was welcome.

“As Molonglo continues to grow, it is vital that we continue to deliver facilities and amenities to support the increased population,” he said.

“New parks and schools are a huge part of that equation, and it’s great to see them front and centre of this latest estate development.

“We look forward to seeing them delivered in a timely manner.”

The developer will hold two public community consultation sessions at the Denman Village Community Centre on Wednesday, 26 April, and Saturday, 29 April.

To learn more and view the plans visit the project webpage.