ACT Legislative Assembly: Elizabeth Lee calls for CSIRO land release for housing

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has called on the territory government to push for the federal government to release CSIRO land for housing. Find out why.

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee will push for the ACT Legislative assembly to apply pressure to the federal government to release 243 hectares of CSIRO land for residential use.

Prior to the federal election the ousted Scott Morrison government had committed to selling off the land in Ginninderra in Canberra’s west.

Ms Lee said the land could equate to 2000 homes in the growing region.

“Demand for housing in Canberra, particularly detached housing is at crisis point, and is not being met by the ACT Labor-Greens government,” Ms Lee said.

“Canberrans are doing it tough when it comes to housing and we must be doing everything we can to help relieve the housing crisis.

“I am calling on all parties in the Assembly to urge their federal counterparts to release the CSIRO site to the market as soon as possible.”

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee wants the ACT Government to push for CSIRO land to be released for housing in the nation’s capital.

Ms Lee has also called on the ACT government to support low and medium density housing at the Ginninderra site “in keeping with Canberrans’ housing preference” if the land is released.

“(Low and medium density housing) is clearly currently starkly missing on the market,” she said.

“Recent land release ballots have seen thousands and thousands of Canberrans apply for a few blocks; with the most recent at Macnamara receiving 1700 entries within hours for just 51 blocks.

“The ACT Labor-Greens government’s land release policy of 70 per cent infill is making the housing crisis worse.

“After more than 20 years in government they have failed to adequately plan for the sustainable growth of our city, and this is another way we can help address the crisis.”