An upcoming review of concessionally-leased land across Canberra should not focus on turning community spaces into more housing, Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur has warned.
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The Environment and Planning Directorate and the Chief Minister's Directorate will scrutinise the below-market-value leases often granted to clubs, churches and community groups to "strategically determine the future use of that land for greatest public benefit".
The review was foreshadowed in the territory government's new planning strategy, which says 70 per cent of new homes will be sourced from infill.
The strategy is designed to deal with an ACT population predicted to hit 589,000 by 2041, with Canberra needing 12 homes a day to meet this demand.
However, Ms Le Couteur said while a review of concessional community land was required, it must be the "right review".
"The review should not focus on turning concessional community land into infill development. Instead, it should focus on getting the most benefit possible for the community," Ms Le Couteur said.
"The ACT is fortunate to have a supply of low-cost concessional community land held by community organisations such as churches and clubs, in addition to market-value community-zoned land available for activities like child care and health centres that can make a profit.
"The Greens, and many in the community, are concerned that the supply of low-cost concessional community land is being run down through site-by-site conversion to market-value land, often with little community benefit. At the same time, there are under-used concessional community sites around the city which are not providing as many benefits to the community as they could."
Most recently the Canberra Services Club has relodged its development application to deconcessionalise the lease of its Blackall Street site in Barton, with plans for a $50 million redevelopment.
The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn has also applied to deconcessionalise the lease of St Luke's Church in Deakin to build supportive townhouses.
Ms Le Couteur said any review needed to ensure there were sufficient community facilities available in each district to meet future needs as well as current needs.
"This is likely to include a mix of low-cost concessional community land, market value community land and space for community groups to meet or have offices in government-owned buildings," Ms Le Couteur said.
"There are great models for how to better use our community land. For example, the Curtin Uniting Church is looking to use some of its unused land to build long-term supported housing for people with mental illnesses who can’t live independently or are at risk of homelessness. This is based on the successful ‘HOME in Queanbeyan’ housing on church-owned land in Queanbeyan."
A government spokeswoman said last week the scope of the review was yet to be decided, but it would not focus on the revocation of individual leases.
The territory government is also looking to encourage infill around the light rail stage two corridor and other major public transport avenues as part of the new planning strategy.
"This will provide a clear picture of how, where and when urban renewal may occur along the corridor," a government spokesman said.
However that work cannot progress until the route to Woden is finalised, with public servants currently canvassing a new State Circle option.
The business case for the project will also be influenced by the final route and the land use assumptions.
