The future heart of the Molonglo Valley, planned for 70,000 people. For Suburban Land Agency, we’re delivering a phased engagement that is guiding concept design.
Molonglo Town Centre will be the heart of the Molonglo Valley, expected to grow to around 70,000 people by 2050. The Suburban Land Agency (SLA) engaged Placeworks to deliver a phased engagement program, starting with a Community Vision for the town centre. With conversations about Molonglo dating back to 2004, the engagement aimed to build on what the community had already shared rather than repeat it. It also set out to give the design team tangible guidance that reflected a fast-growing community with many young families.
We focused the conversation on where community input could add the most value: the look, feel and character of the town centre. We were also clear about which matters would be resolved through technical and statutory processes. The survey explored seven draft themes, building on SLA’s vision for Molonglo and the Connecting with Country Framework. Each question aimed to give the design team practical, usable insight.
The six-week program centred on the ACT Government’s YourSay platform, while pop-ups and a drop-in session met people where they shop and live. A dedicated youth approach brought in younger voices, with tailored flyers and posters in local schools, a pop-up at Canberra College and a Year 6 school incursion. Online sessions included the Molonglo Valley Community Forum. We also established a Community Panel to provide ongoing input as the project progresses.
People want a natural, green and leafy town centre with easy access to the Molonglo River, as long as its environmental values are protected. Food and drink outlets and market-style shopping were seen as central to creating a real meeting place. Views on smart technology were mixed, though it mattered more to younger participants.
The engagement drew 414 survey responses, a statistically significant evidence base for the project. Our reporting distilled the findings into community-informed recommendations for the project team to consider. The resulting Community Vision is now reflected in the Molonglo Town Centre and Surrounds Master Plan, released in 2026. Placeworks continues to support SLA as the project moves into staged subdivision design. Engagement on Molonglo 2 is under way, with later stages to follow.