The sod has turned on a long-awaited community centre in the ACT's fastest growing district

Construction is about to start on Gungahlin’s long-awaited community centre, and it couldn’t come soon enough, according to locals.

It hasn’t been completely without a place to hold indoor events, after the ACT Government opened a temporary community centre in December 2023, but the ACT’s fastest-growing district is also one of the only districts still without its own proper, permanent one.

“I’ve been advocating for a long time to secure this commitment, since 2020, so it’s exciting to be here today and finally getting that first sod turned,” local MLA Suzanne Orr said.

In a media conference on Tuesday morning (11 March), government members attended the site – 3010 square metres of former government car park in the town centre, bordered by Efkarpidis Street, Gungahlin Place and The Valley Avenue – to stick the ceremonial shovels in.

Plans were first lodged for the $13 million community centre and youth hub in October 2023, pitched as “meeting the needs of the area’s growing population”.

“The new community centre will be able to be used for a wide variety of different occasions and functions,” the government said in a statement this week.

“This will include a dedicated work hub, meeting and activity rooms, multiple art workshops and studios, outdoor green spaces, a large multi-purpose community hall and expansive kitchen facilities.”

There’ll be public parking spaces, but the site is also a brief walk from light rail and includes secure bike parking and end-of-trip facilities.

During the community consultation phase last year, Ms Orr said they’d heard about the need for “lots of arts and craft facilities” and – “particularly hard to get” – wet areas for the likes of pottery and clay-moulding.

“And a really big kitchen. We’ve been told by everyone that catering is essential.”

The youth hub component – complete with a lounge area, outdoor recreation space, work stations, consulting room, low sensory room and games area – is in response to requests from Barnados Australia and other charity organisations who noted “just about how important it is to have that drop-in space, that place where kids can come where there’s no cost and they’re always welcome … to get the support they need and … have a bit of fun”, Ms Orr said.

She suspected the new centre “may be the best one in Canberra”.

Minister for Planning Chris Steel said Gungahlin’s temporary community centre had shown “strong take-up”, and he was confident “this new, larger facility will be well used”.

He confirmed the temporary centre will remain in place until construction of the new centre is completed, and that “further community facilities are also planned as part of the future Gungahlin East precinct”.

The Gungahlin East project is the Suburban Land Agency’s plan to develop the remaining land on the eastern side of the existing town centre, complete with a “fine-grain network of small streets, lanes and walkways” and more community facilities and retail spaces.

“There’s significant planning work that’s being done at the moment around Gungahlin East and future community facilities there,” he said.

“We also need to look at a future space for another library as well so that we can free up space in the existing Gungahlin College.”

Mr Steel said additional community centres are also planned for Woden and the Molonglo Valley.

Construction on the Gungahlin Community Centre is expected to be completed in early 2026.

The Gungahlin Community Council was contacted for comment.