Estate works and infrastructure are currently estimated to cost between $20-22 million but the figure is expected to be refined through estate development planning and detailed design work.

Land Development Agency chief executive Dan Stewart said the ACT government would development infrastructure as necessary alongside the suburb’s growth.

Yarralumla residents are concerned about the ageing suburb’s ability to cope with a dramatic increase in its population as a result of the brickworks development, which will house up to 4000 people.

The precinct will effectively double the population of Yarralumla. Close to 3000 people currently live in the lakeside suburb.

The ACT government, however, has been advised that existing infrastructure in the area will be able to support the proposed development, aside from the road network.

The infrastructure studies were conducted by Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation for the agency.

“It is anticipated that the release of land within the new development will occur over eight to 10 years commencing in 2016 to 17, and therefore provides a sustainable and incremental increase to the overall population of this region of Canberra,” Mr Stewart said.

“The ACT government recognises that the road network in the vicinity of the proposed development has capacity issues. The LDA is continuing to engage with Roads ACT to provide feedback on the issues that have been raised by the community.”

Parklands, conservation of the Canberra Brickworks Complex, remediation of the brickworks site and the Adelaide Avenue bus stop are not included in the figure.

Yarralumla Residents Association president Marea Fatseas said the group was concerned about the implications of the population surge on existing infrastructure and roads.

One key issue was the impact of traffic coming from Cotter Road, particularly with the increasing population of Molonglo, before the implementation of the proposed Mint interchange.

“It was going to take traffic from Cotter Road over Adelaide Avenue into Dennison Street and past the Mint – that would be the way for people to get into West Deakin,” Ms Fatseas said.

“The current proposal no longer assumes the Mint overpass, that’s been put into the future. A lot of the traffic modelling... was based on the assumption of the Mint interchange.”

With the proposed closing of Dudley Street, commuters heading to West Deakin would be forced to travel through Curtin, Yarralumla or continue along Adelaide Avenue and exit at Hopetoun Circuit, rather than access the area directly, she said.

Ms Fatseas said she was also concerned existing congestion at the Yarralumla shops would worsen, with only one supermarket proposed for the new development.

Stormwater and sewage issues already affected existing residents, let alone new ones.

“We know there are some houses near that area that don’t actually have any stormwater at the moment,” Ms Fatseas said.

“These are bread and butter issues... and we expect those issues would be fully budgeted for,’’ she said.

‘‘Especially if rates are increasing, we need to make sure people are actually getting services.”