The entire Greens caucus has put its support behind a petition calling on the ACT government to urgently halt the sale of four blocks in the Gungahlin town centre.
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The move, seemingly at odds with the party's own election platform, comes after Greens backbencher Andrew Braddock sponsored the petition, which also calls for no land sales in Gungahlin until a draft territory plan variation is considered by an assembly committee.
Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said the party was committed to creating a city that supports community needs, green space and urban heritage.
"It is evident that there are significant planning challenges in the Gungahlin town centre. The community has repeatedly asked for increased green space, community facilities and commercial opportunities to build a more viable place to live," Mr Rattenbury said.
"All ACT Greens MLAs support this petition because there needs to be a dynamic and high quality plan for the Gungahlin town centre."
Mr Rattenbury said the government needed to pause and consider the full implications of development that is not supported by the community.
The Suburban Land Agency is set to auction four blocks, which could see 450 units built, on Wednesday. Of the 454 dwellings permitted across the blocks, at least 76 will be affordable and eight will be public housing.
The Greens campaigned on a platform of delivering at least 100 new social housing properties each year and for 80 per cent of Canberra's development to be urban infill.
Mr Rattenbury said the party was still committed to delivering on its election commitments. "We need to ensure we use our space properly, with greater community consultation and input," he said.
"We are looking forward to negotiating an improved approach in the development and planning in Gungahlin, so there is a better plan for the ongoing growth in Canberra's north."
More than 370 people have signed the petition prepared by the Gungahlin Community Council.
Council chair Peter Elford said last week there was frustration that only residential developments seemed to be built in the town centre.
"It's fair to say the community in Gungahlin is frustrated the town centre doesn't seem to be developing the way town centres are in other parts of Canberra," Mr Elford said.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
