ACT signs deal for CSIRO site, plans to build 3,000 homes

The CSIRO and the ACT government have reached a deal for the long-awaited sale of the Ginninderra Experiment Station site in Canberra's north.

The agreement will see the territory government acquire 243 hectares of the site for $385 million for the construction of more than 3,000 homes — about 15 per cent of which are promised to be affordable, community and public homes.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the deal would help the government meet its target of enabling 30,000 new homes in the capital by 2030.

"This is one of the most significant land acquisitions in the ACT's history," Mr Barr said.

"[It] will support our ambitious housing targets, including the delivery of more affordable and community housing.

"By bringing this site into government ownership, we can ensure it is developed in a way that provides housing choice, new infrastructure and supports Canberra's growth over the coming decades."

The national science agency identified the former agricultural research site between Belconnen and the Barton Highway as being underutilised more than a decade ago.

The ACT government entered discussions with the Commonwealth in 2021, and federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher approved the sale in early 2025.

But ACT Housing Minister Yvette Berry said the process was drawn out due to the complexity of the site, including concerns about possible contamination from the CSIRO's experiments.

"Due to the size of the location, the environmental values of the land, all of the due diligence that was needed to be taken was complex and has taken a bit of time to resolve," Ms Berry said.

"And more recently: some of our negotiations [were] around how we manage potential contamination on the site.

"At this stage, there's no outstanding contamination issues.

"All of those we needed to both understand and come to an arrangement before we could sign the deal."

The ACT government says the new suburb, which it is calling Ginninderra East, will be planned in consultation with the community, while the hefty price tag will be paid in eight instalments from early 2027 to ease pressure on the ACT's budget.

Development is not expected to begin until October 2029.

"Obviously, there's a significant consultation process that the ACT government will need to carry out with the existing community, and the new community that will be living in Ginninderra East as well," Ms Berry said.

"So, a fair bit of work around planning, site development plans, master planning, Territory Plan variations that will need to occur in the next few years."

'The industry stands ready'

Master Builders ACT chief executive Anna Neelagama said the government's looming housing target means work to enable building needs to occur as soon as possible.

"This is a positive outcome for our city and region at a time when the residential building sector requires much-needed stimulus," she said.

"The delivery of up to 3,000 new homes will help address housing supply challenges while creating opportunities for local builders, subcontractors and suppliers.

"Consideration of this deal has been a long-term process, but homes are needed now.

"The focus must turn to ensuring this transaction proceeds as quickly and efficiently as possible so that land can be brought to market without delay. This will be critical to ensuring the benefits of the development are realised within the time frames set out under the National Housing Accord.

"The industry stands ready to work with both the ACT and Federal governments to realise this opportunity swiftly and ensure as much work as possible flows to local small and medium-sized businesses."

A spokesperson for the CSIRO said the proceeds from the sale were earmarked to fund the first stage of a refit of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.

"CSIRO is undertaking a range of activities and due diligence studies in preparation for the future sale of its Ginninderra West property," the spokesperson said.

"CSIRO continues to actively manage Ginninderra West, with particular regard to its environmental and heritage values, which align with our obligations under the EPBC [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation] Act."