Some of the first government-owned townhouses in Canberra's inner south will be removed to make way for updated public housing, as outlined in a recently-lodged development application.
The $16.23 million proposal would include 30 territory government-owned homes in Yarralumla, built for low-income earners.
Block 3 Section 59 in the suburb was first acquired by the ACT government in 1956 and has been used to house residents since.
The 10 existing homes on the site are currently untenanted.
The updated proposal includes three buildings, each close to the boundary of the property, with gardens in between.
Two of the buildings are proposed have one and two-bedroom units, each with a courtyard or balcony. The apartments in these buildings will span one level each.
The third building will included ten two-storey townhouses with open-plan living and dining on the ground floor and two or three bedrooms upstairs.
These diverse designs are in line with Housing ACT's aim for no more than two children to share a room, and for children more than seven years apart to have their own space.
Landscaping in the complex would include shrubbery around the boundary and several large trees towards the centre of the site.
There would be 11 existing trees removed from the site, but eight would be retained.
Parking at the complex would total 37 spots, with a mix of underground and street-level spaces. Electric charging and accessible parks would be available.
The plans, lodged for a site bounded by Schlich and Banks streets and Solander Place, will contribute to a large suite of development in Yarraluma
An 11-hectare block of land, located off Banks Street, was zoned for mixed-use in March 2024. There are 300 privately-built homes planned for the area.
The ACT government announced in June an extra $108 million in funding for new public housing and to improve existing housing.
That funding is not for extra properties, but to support the delivery of the already promised 600 affordable rentals and 400 public housing properties by 2027, under the government's growth and renewal program.
Housing Minister Yvette Berry said in April 475 homes had been built and a further 577 were under construction or in design works since the program started five years ago.
In April, it was revealed the ACT government had made more than $1 billion from the sale of public housing properties since 2011.
The Yarralumla development is one of public housing developments already pencilled in prior to the announcement.
Once complete, the development would be part of the Woden and Weston Creek area under ACT Housing.
The public can comment on the development application for 2 Schlich Street until September 30.
