The new Gungahlin suburb of Moncrieff continues to attract hundreds of would-be buyers with more than 1800 registrations for land submitted when the first public ballot closed at 4pm on Tuesday.
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The ballot, which was the first opportunity to stake a claim on the 317 blocks on offer, opened in late September after a builders' ballot in June.
Land Development Agency director of sales Clint Peters said residential blocks in the first release would sell for less than $300,000 and related parties checks would be made on all registrations, and ineligible submissions would be removed.
Mr Peters said the development of the new suburb adjacent to Ngunnawal, Amaroo and Jacka was on schedule with four of the five civil works contracts awarded and the final one out to tender.
"Construction of housing on the first blocks of land is expected to commence towards the end of 2015," he said.
Mr Peters said the development was an important component of the ACT government's two-year stimulus package to support local jobs, which resulted in civil works contracts being brought forward and work undertaken concurrently.
"[The suburb] will strengthen the housing sector by offering quality land that caters for the growing demands from home buyers who want to build their own home, and will have a mix of residential block sizes to meet the expected demand," he said.
Moncrieff will become home to about 5000 Canberrans in an expected 2125 dwellings.
Recreational facilities have been billed as a feature of the suburb. Walkways and cycle paths will connect to adjacent suburbs and a third of the land will be reserved for open space, including hilltops and ridges.
"Ponds throughout the estate will provide views to the open space and hills between Jacka and Taylor [while] existing mature trees and newly planted trees will also add to the estate's character," Mr Peters said.
A group complex will be built at the intersection of Mirrabei Drive and Horse Park Drive, with a supermarket and a range of specialty retailers and services.
The cheapest block available was 250 square metres, which was to be sold for $186,000. The most expensive was a 955-square-metre site at $298,000.
After an e-ballot in late October, the successful Moncrieff buyers will be able to pick their blocks from early November.
"We're really encouraging them to select three or four blocks because, obviously, with a ballot process you don't want to set your heart on one block and then find it's gone and you've gone through the process," Mr Peters said.
