All engines are go at former West Belconnen fire station site in Charnwood

A West Belconnen fire station could soon house a childcare centre – that’s one of the options offered in the release of a site in Charnwood.

The Land Development Agency has placed the 3600-square-metre site of the former fire station for sale by auction through agents, MMJ Real Estate. Agent Gavin Obst says the site is well positioned to service established suburbs in West Belconnen including Spence, Flynn, Latham and Macgregor.

“It’s also in a convenient location close to community facilities, schools and local shopping centres,” he says.”Its zoning is ‘community facilities’ that has a variety of uses including child care, health facilities, a community activity centre or indoor and outdoor recreation and more.”

Fellow agent Nick George says there is a unique opportunity to maintain and retrofit the existing building. “That could create a fun and exciting new facility with the potential to expand,” he says.

LDA acting chief executive Ben Ponton says the sale of the site has come about because of a consolidation of local emergency services.

“The former (West) Belconnen fire station site has been surplus since the opening of the new combined Belconnen Ambulance and Fire Station in Charnwood in October 2013,” he says.

“That was part of the ACT government’s station upgrade and relocation program.”

Earlier this year, All Homes reported a former water police station on Lake Ginninderra was set for demolition in preparation for a new foreshore development.

That 1000 square metres of space along Lake Ginninderra near the Belconnen Town Centre could be transformed into a boutique entertainment precinct, subject to a future development application.

It is understood any future development of the former water police headquarters site at Evelyn Parker Place, near the Lake Ginninderra Sea Scouts Hall, would exclude existing mature trees south of the road, a retaining wall, jetty and boat ramp.

These sales are part of the roll-out of land releases throughout this financial year by the ACT government that is set to reap some $630 million of revenue.

A large portion of newly available property will be freed up as rundown public housing sites across central Canberra are razed and sold as part of the federal government’s Asset Recycling Scheme.

Releases include 4550 residential dwelling sites, 131,404 square metres of community, non-urban land, 86,219 square metres of mixed-used sites, 12,811 square metres of commercial land and 30,000 square metres of industrial land.

The site at 35 Lhotsky Street in Charnwood will be auctioned on Wednesday, November 30, at 11am through MMJ Real Estate agents Gavin Obst and Nick George on 0408 490 066 and 0419 205 619. 

Who’s in the market: The Belconnen site could house a childcare centre, health facilities, a community centre or recreational facilities.