Residents would like to see the ACT government develop a master plan for the area to avoid the suburb turning into a dumping ground for projects without long-term consideration for the future of the region.

But the government does not have any plans to develop such a strategy.

The chief concerns among many long-term residents in the region include a lack of consultation about proposed developments and the impact of these projects on the region's environment and heritage.

Mugga Lane resident Des Owens said a plan might alleviate the ad hoc nature of the area's development and boost communication between the government and residents.

Mr Owens and his wife own the farmyard nursery and cattle stud opposite land earmarked for a mental health unit.

“Even just [a] partial plan would be a great improvement,” he said.

“It's a great area with a great history. The residents and the history are being ignored.

"Residents know the area like the back of their hand and would have some very good ideas about what would be good for this particular environment.”

Symonston comprises Mugga-Mugga cottage, Callum-Brae Nature Reserve and soldier settler homestead, a correctional health facility, the Domestic Animal Services shelter, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, farms and a long-stay caravan park.

Planned projects include the Mugga Lane mental health unit and the proposed RSPCA and Domestic Animal Services facility.

Mr Owens was not consulted on the location of the mental health unit before it was announced.

“A plan would [alleviate some issues] and give the community an idea – do they want to be part of the community or go somewhere else? Will they be surprised every year?” he asked.

A spokesman for Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell confirmed that a master plan for Symonston was not in the pipeline.

"Master plans are generally prepared in response to planning issues that have been identified as part of broader planning and analysis and respond to identified pressures such as population growth or demand for a particular land use such as industrial,” he said.

“Generally the government agrees that a master plan will be prepared once the need has been identified.

"That broader planning work to date has not identified the need to prepare a Symonston master plan.”

Narrabundah Lane resident Colin Swan, however, said consultation with residents in developing a master plan would provide residents with a clearer idea about the future of Symonston.

He said there was a general feeling among many residents that Symonston had become a dumping ground for projects unwanted elsewhere.

“I would really like to see some sort of plan that can show in 25 years' time 'this is what we expect your suburb to look like'. There hasn't been any thought for the long-term,” he said.

Mr Swan was concerned that zoning and the economic value of land were overshadowing residents and places of historical and environmental significance in Symonston.

Land in Symonston was traditionally broadacre, which is generally developed for projects that require large sites unavailable in urban areas or that would operationally benefit from a non-urban setting.

Symonston's industrial area comprises the Amtech estate and a proposed development of blocks 1 and 8, located south of Fyshwick, east of the Monaro Highway.

A resident in the area who wished to remain anonymous said it was critical that any future developments in Symonston, including a master plan, prioritised heritage and environmental considerations.

The resident said earlier community consultation about developments that were planned for the suburb would benefit residents and government.