20 March 2021

Works begins on Moncrieff

| Canfan
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Work has begun on the first stages of the $150 million capital works project for the provision of infrastructure and services for the new Gungahlin suburb of Moncrieff.

Part of the ACT Government’s construction stimulus package, the release of multiple civil contracts is aimed at supporting and stimulating the local construction industry by sharing the work across a number of local contractors and in turn, making the majority of the estate ‘build-ready’ more quickly.

The initial work is focused in the western part of Moncrieff, a 62 hectare site that is designed to accommodate approximately 1,000 dwellings and a commercial precinct in the north east corner, adjacent to the intersection of Mirrabei and Horse Park Drives, which will include a group centre, community facilities and medium density housing.

The $19 million contract for one of the packages of civil works in this area has been awarded to local contractor Group 1 and the other $17 million contract has been awarded to Canberra Contractors.

READ ALSO See Moncrieff Differently

Concurrent work will be undertaken in the eastern part of the suburb, adjacent to Amaroo, and the first contract for work in this area will be awarded shortly with the final package for the remainder of the work to be awarded in the next few months.

Land for the first 522 new homes has already been allocated following a very successful ‘builders ballot’ held in early June which saw a number of Canberra builders secure parcels of land comprising various numbers of blocks tailored to the size of their operations. The Land Development Agency worked with both the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association to determine the most appropriate size of the parcels.

Canberra families will also have their opportunity to secure a block in Moncrieff later this year.

For every $1 million of output in the construction sector there is a multiplier effect elsewhere in the economy of $2.9 million and this is why the ACT Government is determined to ensure ongoing support for this important sector.

This coordinated approach to the development of the new suburb of Moncrieff is a great example of how we are working with the private sector to minimise the effect that the Abbott/Hockey budget has on Canberra.

moncrieff-map

Image of Moncrieff from the LDA website.

(Andrew Barr Media Release)

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Sorry, my last post was plain wrong. That should read 2730 moving to Bonner, Casey and Harrison. I was looking at the wrong column in the link (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/3218.0~2012-13~Main+Features~Australian+Capital+Territory?OpenDocument).

Daniel said :

Who is going to occupy them as more Canberrans are leaving than coming in? The ACT Demographer is well behind the trends in falling population growth rates (perhaps to appease the development lobby, like the rest of the ACT government).

Is the ABS also behind? Their demographic publication for 12-13 says 12600 people moved into the nearby suburbs of Bonner, Casey and Harrison:

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/3218.0~2012-13~Main+Features~Australian+Capital+Territory?OpenDocument

The current government may have slashed public service jobs, but there still seems to be a lot of contract work going on at present. Meanwhile, universities and colleges are also expanding in size.

I met a guy from overseas who says he loves Canberra because it’s got all the big city perks without the competition and congestion. Reason enough for some to move here, I guess.

so are they going to make horse park drive dual lanes too to accommodate the growing area up there?

Daniel said :

What an absolute waste of money! .

I think you will find that the builders have already bought the blocks for more than the construction/infrastructure costs (in fact, the builders 500 odd blocks sold for $110m). You may be entirely right about the future of housing in Canberra, but the risk isnt being borne by the Territory and there was no hesitation by the builders in snapping up these blocks.

Plus the territory has the remaining 600 odd blocks to sell to make even more money

Blocks were starting under $300,000 for the builders

Average block price?

What an absolute waste of money! I’m for a construction stimulus in current circumstances, but there are currently so many empty dwellings, either previously occupied, newly constructed or in the pipeline that all of these recently announced developments will not be sold until well after 2025. Rental vacancies and real estate listings for June top 5000; Another 20 plus thousand are in the pipeline (Dec 13 EDD report) and an unknown number of empty newly constructed dwellings. Annual demand for dwellings has been about 2700, but this will fall significantly with less people coming in and economic circumstances becoming tight.

Who is going to occupy them as more Canberrans are leaving than coming in? The ACT Demographer is well behind the trends in falling population growth rates (perhaps to appease the development lobby, like the rest of the ACT government).

AT least the cost of newly constructed dwellings and rents will start falling significantly next year.

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