New neighbourhoods approved for Googong, NSW

More than 18,000 people residents could soon call the fledgling town of Googong home. Find out why people are choosing to make the move.

Artist impressions of a planned expansion of the township of Googong near the ACT. Picture: Googong

The development of three new neighbourhoods in the young town of Googong near the ACT/NSW border has been given the green light after the population has nearly doubled in four years.

The creation of the new suburbs, Googong West, Googong South and Googong East, is expected to accommodate 2100 new homes.

NSW’s Southern Regional Planning Panel approved the project.

Peet Limited Googong project director Malcolm Leslie said they plan to build three new town centres, an athletics track, eight parks and a new road connection to Old Cooma Road.

Currently, there are only two suburbs in the township, Googong North and Googong Central, with houses in the two neighbourhoods completely sold out.

Peet Limited Googong Project Director Malcolm Leslie. Picture: LinkedIn

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council general manager Rebecca Ryan said at 235 hectares, the approval was one of the most significant new housing release developments assessed by the panel.

“It shows the significant growth of the region and the appeal of Googong as a great place for new families and is a credit to the town’s joint venture developers, Peet and Mirvac,” she said.

Mr Leslie said the development of the three new suburbs would ensure residents of the town would have access to the services they need.

“It means we can quickly respond to demand for land and housing in Googong, which has been exceptionally high over recent years,” he said.

Mr Leslie said developers took pride in green spaces and were committed to interpreting sustainability throughout the town‘s growth.

“As part of the approval, Googong has entered into a Biodiversity Conservation Agreement with the NSW Department of the Environment, that will see it set aside 57 hectares of land for conservation and enhancement of native vegetation,” he said.

Googong began welcoming residents in 2014, and its population has boomed in eight years.

According to the 2021 Census, 6221 people live in the town — recording significant growth since the 2016 Census, which recorded 2690 Googongians.

Aerial images from Nearmap depict hundreds of houses built between 2010 and 2022.

The creation of three new neighbourhoods in the town is expected to support 18,000 people.

When asked why he thought Googong population and popularity had boomed, Mr Leslie said the town “offers a genuine sense of community”.

“There’s been a real commitment by developers to provide quality infrastructure in advance of when it is needed,” he said.

“Whereas commonly (the development) of that sort of infrastructure can take a year or two after people move in.”

He also said Googongians could see the value of the town in contrast to new suburbs in Canberra.

“The average price of land in Googong is just over $500,000 whereas the average price for a similar sized lot in Whitlam, ACT, is over $750,000,” he said.

“People definitely see the value in Googong.”