The saga of a long-planned supermarket complex at the Giralang shops is far from over, with a Supreme Court case launched that could take two years to resolve.
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The legal challenge to the latest proposed development is being led by owners of the neighbouring Kaleen and Evatt IGA supermarkets and residents.
It says Planning Minister Simon Corbell's announcement in August that he would use his call-in powers to end seven years of controversy over the shops in Canberra's north was improper.
The approved proposal allowed the centre's owners to develop a smaller 1500sqm supermarket, which would be complemented by four specialty shops, a cafe, a restaurant, 100 underground car-parking spaces and more than 70 surface car-parking spaces.
The Belconnen suburb shopping centre has been vacant since 2004.
But the legal action alleges Mr Corbell's decision was not consistent with the Territory Plan because it was too large, was not well served by public transport, would create traffic problems, and failed to take into account the economic impact on other commercially viable centres.
It has been brought against Mr Corbell, architectural firm AMC Projects, Giralang shops owners Nikias Nominees, the ACT Planning and Land Authority and the ACT executive. It seeks that all works on the site, including demolition, be halted and makes a claim for costs.
The claim will be heard at a date to be fixed.
Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur will introduce today an ambitious reform package into the Legislative Assembly that, if it is supported, would place a moratorium on the direct sale of any land in existing shopping centres for new supermarkets until at least August next year.
Ms Le Couteur's package would establish a select committee to inquire into supermarket competition in the ACT, the impact of the market dominance of the major companies and how competition could be enhanced for new development applications. She said the Supreme Court case could take two years to resolve, and the territory deserved certainty in the meantime.
Ms Le Couteur will tell the Assembly today that, ''The Government is intending to increase the number of sites for supermarkets in the ACT [but] there are numerous issues in regard to market power in the retail market.''
If the bid is supported, a select committee would report to the Assembly by April.
A spokeswoman for Mr Corbell said the Government would consider the motion.
