Googong North takes out the ACT’s top property prize

Googong North – the first of five connected neighbourhoods in Googong – includes 2,000 dwellings and 4,000 sqm of commercial and retail space and is already home to 5,000-plus residents. The town will eventually be home to over 18,000 people and is being developed as a Joint Venture between Peet Limited and Mirvac.  

Peet Limited, on behalf of its Joint Venture partnership with Mirvac, was presented with the Rider Levett Bucknall ACT Development of the Year award today.

“Googong North was the first step in the creation of a whole new town from scratch. The site was a degraded sheep property in a rural setting when the developers envisioned a new self-contained town just 30 minutes from Canberra’s CDB,” says Property Council ACT Executive Director Adina Cirson.

“While Googong is just across the border, it is very much part of the Canberra community. The judges applaud Peet and Mirvac’s winning combination of high-standard amenity, sustainability and liveability.”

“The planning process included more than 10 years of environmental and community consultation, and engagement with four governments across three tiers. A persistent and innovative approach to planning and problem solving delivered a range of great outcomes for the residents of Googong,” Ms Cirson adds.

Impressive community infrastructure in this first neighbourhood includes the Club Googong indoor pool and kids splashdesk, tennis courts, gym, a community centre, three sports fields, two dog parks, eight playgrounds and over 15 kilometres of bike, bush and walking trails. 

The RLB ACT Development of the Year award is part of the 2020 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards program. 

Googong North is now competing for the EPM Projects Award for Best Master Planned Community at the national awards, which will be held virtually on Thursday 22 October.

RLB has partnered with the Property Council to present the awards program since its inception in 1982.

“Property is Australia’s largest industry, contributing 13 per cent of the nation’s GDP and employing 1.4 million people,” says RLB Managing Director, Mark Chappe.

“Innovative projects like Googong showcase the visionary work of our industry, creating jobs, growth and opportunities for people across our region,” Mr Chappe concludes.