Extensive public consultation has been at the heart of our planning process for the Gungahlin Homestead Estate. An overwhelming 80 per cent of respondents to our 2024 open day survey supported Crace Holdings' vision for retirement living and our plans to open the site to the public.
Our preliminary design process has been truly collaborative with input from many different stakeholders including:
• Ngunnawal community members sharing knowledge of Country
• Heritage conservation experts advising on preservation approaches
• Local residents providing feedback on community integration
• Sustainability specialists ensuring environmental best practice
• Senior living experts sharing insights on age-friendly design
This invaluable input has resulted in a masterplan that balances multiple priorities while staying true to our core values of heritage preservation and environmental stewardship.
The results of our community engagement have been very positive. Survey respondents consistently told us they wanted to see:
• Gungahlin Homestead opened to the public for the first time in decades
• The landscape and environmental value of the site protected and enhanced
• A solution that provides sustainable funding for heritage conservation
• Housing options that address the critical shortage of retirement living in Canberra
As one community member noted: "Love the masterplan, it incorporates our cultural beliefs, living with the land and shows respect for our ways of caring for Country. Good to see some of the themes and suggestions from the planning day have been included."
Community engagement does not end with early planning and we are committed to ongoing dialogue with our neighbors and stakeholders through the approval and development process. This includes regular updates on our progress, opportunities for site visits and tours, and continued collaboration with interested groups.
We believe that the best communities are built through genuine partnership with the people who will live in and around them.
