Residents who plan to move to the developing district of West Belconnen may share more than just the distinction of living in the ACT's first cross-border suburb.
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They could be sharing kitchens, laundries, open spaces, car parks and energy-efficient homes on compact blocks in a world-first sustainable community.
The joint-venture team of the ACT government and the Riverview Group has commissioned market researchers to determine the views of Canberrans about different housing types for the suburb, which will be located adjacent to Holt and West Macgregor.
Pollsters have been calling residents and asking questions ranging from whether they would pay a premium for an energy-efficient home, prefer to ride a bike than drive, or would be happy to live in a studio above a garage.
Riverview Group managing director David Maxwell said the results of the research would be revealed during a community session on Monday evening that will precede a three-day planning and design forum. Mr Maxwell said this week was really the start of consultation and planning, which would help shape the master plan for the new community.
He hoped that by April next year the finished design could be lodged with the planning authorities and then the rezoning process could begin.
"That's the start of it, it's a long journey," Mr Maxwell said. "Everyone's interested to see what evolves but the view is that it has merit."
The residential development, which was announced in June, is set to become the first cross-border suburb as it develops during the next 30 years.
While the first stage of the development of West Belconnen will be the delivery of about 4500 dwellings in the ACT, Mr Maxwell said it was logical to look at the rezoning of both sides of the border.
The Riverview Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corkhill Bros Pty Ltd, which owns land on both sides of the border.
A team of 43 consultants, including futurists and engineers, have begun to investigate how such a cross-border rezoning would work.
Mr Maxwell said last month the housing venture was accepted as a pilot program under the Green Building Council of Australia Green Star Community ratings tool.
ACT Economic Development Minister Andrew Barr said at the launch of the project that the government had decided to sign on as a partner because of the opportunity to create a world-class estate.
The first 200 blocks of land are expected to be released in 2015.