Nearly 200 single-residential blocks of land in Canberra's west will be up for grabs through a ballot process opening this month.
The ballot will be the first in suburbs Wright and Coombs in the Molonglo Valley since 2013, with the government generally offering new land by auction in recent years - a sales method that has left it open to criticism of maximising land prices.
Cheryl-Lynn Noble and her husband William with two of their children Oliver, 9, and Kimberly, 11.
Photo: Jamila ToderasThe new ballot will see 194 blocks offered, ranging from 403 square metres to 977 square metres - 123 blocks in Wright, and 71 in Coombs.
A ballot in the Gungahlin suburb of Taylor saw all blocks sold in November last year. In Moncrieff, a 2015 ballot for 77 blocks was hotly contested, with 800 people emailing within minutes of the the 10am opening for the first-in-first-served sale.
A map of the Wright and Coombs area where a ballot will see 194 blocks of land released.
Photo: Suburban Land AgencyA Suburban Land Agency spokesperson said more than half the blocks in the ballot for Wright and Coombs were larger than 500 square-metres and the prices ranged from $420,000 to $650,000.
"This release represents the final opportunity to purchase a residential block of land in Coombs and is one of the last chances to purchase a residential block in Wright," the spokesperson said.
All the blocks are for standalone houses. Both suburbs also contain sites for multi-unit, mixed use and community uses.
People must register between March 26 and April 9 to have their names in the ballot. Names are randomly drawn, then the list is vetted for people entering more than once from the same address. People are then invited to choose their preferred blocks. Blocks are allocated on May 19.
The smallest is a 403 square metre block offered for $420,000 in Coombs. Of the 71 blocks in Coombs, 26 are over 600 square metres. Four are over 800 square metres, offered at $580,000 or higher. One is block is 977 square metres, selling for $650,000 - the most expensive block offered in Coombs,.
In Wright, the biggest block is 847 square metres, selling for $600,000. Twenty-eight of the 123 blocks in wright are over 600 square metes. The smallest block in Wright at 440 square metres, selling for $435,000.
The government spokesman said Wright and Coombs offered "a connected, community-focussed lifestyle which has historically attracted a cross-section of the community including students, first home-buyers, people who are new to Australia, young-or-growing families, downsizers, builders and retirees", with strong interest expected.
About 5000 people have moved into the Molonglo Valley over the past five years.
William and Cheryl-Lyn Noble's family was one of the first to buy in Coombs in 2013 - although it wasn't until 2015 that their house was complete and they could move in.
The couple paid $330,000 for their 403 square metre block as part of a house and land package costing $770,000 in total.
"We were living in Calwell and our house was old and needed substantial work to it so we decided that instead of spending a lot of work and money on renovations to buy a new home instead," Mr Noble said.
"We found that the Molonglo Valley, it's been a great central place to live. It's a very nice community, it's a great location that makes it convenient to get to many, many places and only 15 minutes to the city."
But Mr Noble said he was concerned with the lack of transport, shops and facilities in the area. Coombs residents have been frustrated by delays in building a shopping centre, with the developer having until 2019 to do the work.
"If more people are going to be moving in, traffic in the area would increase and I think there needs to be improvement otherwise there will be issues in the future," Mr Noble said.
For more information visit the Molonglo Valley website.
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