The empty site in Belconnen's town centre known locally as the "big hole in the ground" will become community housing, after the ACT government released the land for sale to community housing providers.
The land release of Block 45 Section 54 came after a 2025 campaign from the Belconnen Community Council to use the land to expand the adjacent Margaret Timpson Park.
Mary Van de Graaf has lived in the neighbouring Sentinel building for 11 years, overlooking Margaret Timpson Park and the empty block. She was a vocal supporter of the council's campaign to extend the park in 2025.
"Fifty-five years ago the park suited this little community, but now with all these high rises we need more of a heart in Belconnen," she said.
The block has been vacant since the former Belconnen Health Centre was demolished in 2020.
Belconnen Community Council chair Lachlan Butler previously argued that the block should become part of Margaret Timpson Park to increase public green space for a growing town centre.
"The Belconnen Town Centre is home to thousands of residents, yet it lacks the public space and amenities to match," Mr Butler said in a 2025 statement.
"If we expect people to embrace higher-density living, we need to give them the community infrastructure that supports a high quality of life."
Ms Van de Graaf objects to the planned use of Block 45 Section 54 as community housing.
"If they're not going to extend the park, it should be developed into low-rise luxury apartments, but not government housing," she said.
"They shouldn't be in a prime location blocking the park."
An ACT government spokesperson has defended the use of the block for community housing.
"It's important to note that Section 54 is not part of Margaret Timpson Park," the spokesperson said.
"The site is a separate parcel of land within the Belconnen Town Centre that presents an opportunity to increase the supply of affordable and community housing in a highly accessible location.
"At the same time, Margaret Timpson Park will continue to be enhanced as a well-loved local destination."
The City and Environment Directorate has released the final landscape plan with a toilet block, a playground, and a picnic area with a barbecue attached to be added to Margaret Timpson Park. An accessible ramp will be built on the park's northern side.
Construction for these facilities is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Ms Van de Graaf fears that the upgrades "will spoil the park".
"It's completely unnecessary," she said. There are public toilets at the nearby Belconnen Library, to the park's west, and toilets in the Belconnen Westfield across the road to its east.
"I see children and teenagers play here all the time ... a toilet will ruin their green space."
Member for Ginninderra Tara Cheyne said in a social media post that this is "an enhancement of the park, not a paving-over of it".
"We're keeping plenty of open lawn for unstructured play, picnics, quiet use and simply lying on the grass," she said.
Between the planned community housing at Block 45 Section 54 and the upgrades to the park, Ms Van de Graaf feels that "the whole balance of the park will be thrown off".
"If they put government housing here, then it just becomes a playground for the government housing, and it's lost to all of us," she said.
"We feel it belongs to us."
The planned construction at the empty block is expected to deliver around 60 homes.
Community housing providers are currently being invited to send expressions of interest for the project.
