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  • Our places
  • Home buyers and builders angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Residential land for sale
      Residential land for sale
      Residential land for sale Sales team
      Talk to our sales team
      Talk to our sales team
    • Home buyers
      How to buy land through SLA

      Your complete guide to buying process.

      Display village

      Everything to make your dream home a reality.

      House and land packages

      Get your home through a house and land package.

      Affordable Home Purchase Scheme

      Helping low to medium income households.

      Mingle, our community development program

      Our community development program that builds thriving and sustainable communities.

      Rebates and initiatives

      Explore how our rebates can help you achieve your dreams of sustainable, affordable living.

    • Builders
      Buying methods for builders

      The Suburban Land Agency has several ways for builders to purchase land.

      Put and call

      Put and Call gives you the opportunity to secure blocks of land with an extended settlement.

  • Developers angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Developers land for sale
      Land for sale
      Land for sale Developers current opportunities
      Current development opportunties
      Current development opportunties
    • Developers
      Developers guide

      Learn about our sales process and find land for sale.

      Why develop in Canberra

      Find out about our vision for the ACT.

      Build-to-Rent

      Growing the number of rental homes in Canberra.

      Upcoming releases

      See whats coming up in the future.

      Sales results

      Browse our latest commercial and industrial sales results.

  • Sustainability and Innovation angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy Sustainability case studies
      Case Studies
      Case Studies
    • Commitment to sustainability
      Why sustainability is important

      Learn why we need to live in happy, green and prosperous communities.

      Our vision for a sustainable future

      Find out how we aim to create great places where communities thrive.

      Showcasing our innovation

      Learn about our Built Form Program that is delivering climate-wise building projects.

      Supporting you to be sustainable

      Find guides and rebates that can help you build a sustainable home.

      Sustainable case studies

      Find out how we embed sustainability into all our work.

    • Our key priorities
      Placemaking

      Learn how we use Placemaking to understand the needs of the community and the environment.

      Resilient communities

      Discover how we're protecting our communities against climate change.

      Zero emissions suburbs

      Learn how we're making the ACT the most energy efficient place in Australia.

      Responsible production and consumption

      Find out how we're transitioning to a more circular economy.

      Healthy prosperous and inclusive places

      Learn how we're improving the wellbeing of communities through design, development and engagement.

  • About us angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Join the team
      Join the team and grow your career
      Join the team and grow your career
    • Our people
      Who we are

      Our vision, our team, our CEO and Board.

      Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples

      Learn about out Reconciliation Action Plan.

      Careers

      Help create vibrant communities and sustainable neighbourhoods for ACT.

      Partnerships, Awards and Sponsorships

      Some of our achievements.

    • Our work
      What we do

      Delivering residential, commercial and industrial developments.

      How we price land

      Valuations and setting reserve prices.

      Housing Strategic Action Plan

      The framework that guides our actions.

      Indicative Land Release Program

      Find out when land is likely to be made available.

      Resources

      Find all our published documents in one place.

ACT Government - Suburban Land Agency
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  • News and articles
  • What's on
  • Contact us
search icon search icon
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  • Our places
  • Home buyers and builders angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Residential land for sale
      Residential land for sale
      Residential land for sale Sales team
      Talk to our sales team
      Talk to our sales team
    • Home buyers
      How to buy land through SLA

      Your complete guide to buying process.

      Display village

      Everything to make your dream home a reality.

      House and land packages

      Get your home through a house and land package.

      Affordable Home Purchase Scheme

      Helping low to medium income households.

      Mingle, our community development program

      Our community development program that builds thriving and sustainable communities.

      Rebates and initiatives

      Explore how our rebates can help you achieve your dreams of sustainable, affordable living.

    • Builders
      Buying methods for builders

      The Suburban Land Agency has several ways for builders to purchase land.

      Put and call

      Put and Call gives you the opportunity to secure blocks of land with an extended settlement.

  • Developers angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Developers land for sale
      Land for sale
      Land for sale Developers current opportunities
      Current development opportunties
      Current development opportunties
    • Developers
      Developers guide

      Learn about our sales process and find land for sale.

      Why develop in Canberra

      Find out about our vision for the ACT.

      Build-to-Rent

      Growing the number of rental homes in Canberra.

      Upcoming releases

      See whats coming up in the future.

      Sales results

      Browse our latest commercial and industrial sales results.

  • Sustainability and Innovation angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy Sustainability case studies
      Case Studies
      Case Studies
    • Commitment to sustainability
      Why sustainability is important

      Learn why we need to live in happy, green and prosperous communities.

      Our vision for a sustainable future

      Find out how we aim to create great places where communities thrive.

      Showcasing our innovation

      Learn about our Built Form Program that is delivering climate-wise building projects.

      Supporting you to be sustainable

      Find guides and rebates that can help you build a sustainable home.

      Sustainable case studies

      Find out how we embed sustainability into all our work.

    • Our key priorities
      Placemaking

      Learn how we use Placemaking to understand the needs of the community and the environment.

      Resilient communities

      Discover how we're protecting our communities against climate change.

      Zero emissions suburbs

      Learn how we're making the ACT the most energy efficient place in Australia.

      Responsible production and consumption

      Find out how we're transitioning to a more circular economy.

      Healthy prosperous and inclusive places

      Learn how we're improving the wellbeing of communities through design, development and engagement.

  • About us angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Join the team
      Join the team and grow your career
      Join the team and grow your career
    • Our people
      Who we are

      Our vision, our team, our CEO and Board.

      Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples

      Learn about out Reconciliation Action Plan.

      Careers

      Help create vibrant communities and sustainable neighbourhoods for ACT.

      Partnerships, Awards and Sponsorships

      Some of our achievements.

    • Our work
      What we do

      Delivering residential, commercial and industrial developments.

      How we price land

      Valuations and setting reserve prices.

      Housing Strategic Action Plan

      The framework that guides our actions.

      Indicative Land Release Program

      Find out when land is likely to be made available.

      Resources

      Find all our published documents in one place.

  1. About us

Who we are

We’re passionate about building connected and vibrant neighbourhoods across ACT. Our diverse backgrounds, careers and perspectives help us to engage closely with communities and stakeholders to create ‘Great places where communities thrive’

Our vision

We create sustainable places where communities and environments thrive. Our work aims to support:

  • affordable living
  • a safe and healthy population
  • social inclusion and diversity
  • housing choices
  • environmental sustainability.

With this vision, our agency supports the growth and diversification of the Territory’s economy.

Our team

Creating successful neighbourhoods and communities requires teamwork. We have a range of specialist teams that all work closely together throughout the planning, development and community-building of each one of our projects.

Suburban Land Agency works within the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) portfolio. We’re responsible for delivering people-focused neighbourhoods on behalf of the ACT Government.

Suburban Land Agency is split up between 5 branches, each with specialist teams.

Program Solutions

  • Sustainability and release coordination
  • Infrastructure services
  • Sales and client services
  • Marketing
  • Community development and engagement

Governance and Corporate Services

  • Governance team
  • People and capability
  • Project management office
  • Corporate services
  • Work health and safety

Finance, Systems and Valuations

  • Strategic finance
  • Commercial finance
  • Valuations and advisory services
  • Digital solutions

Development Delivery

  • Greenfields
  • Urban and commercial

Built Form and Divestment

  • Built form
  • Housing choice
  • Place management

Our CEO

John Dietz, CEO

"SLA is truly unique. I’ve never seen people more passionate about building stronger futures for their local communities."

John has a strong background in transformational leadership, corporate governance, public sector accountability, urban and suburban development, and delivery of housing solutions.

John has hands-on experience with management methodologies used for cost, schedule, feasibility and status reporting. John worked on programs with Defence Housing Australia (DHA), which greatly advanced his understanding of effective corporate governance and program delivery. From 2011 until recently, he was the General Manager of the Property Provisioning Group within DHA.

John is passionate about innovation. And prior to joining DHA he worked for Thales Australia where he was responsible for delivering cutting-edge technology programs. John holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University. He also completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from Securities Institute Education and holds a Half Master's in Project Management from the University of South Australia.

Our boardroom

Our governing board members oversee all operations at SLA. They have experience in:

  • Australian-based and international land development
  • major infrastructure construction and civil works
  • public administration governance
  • the not-for-profit housing sector and environmentally sustainable development.

John Fitzgerald, Chair

John has extensive experience in infrastructure policy and delivery, public transport and urban renewal. He has a strong background in governance, finance and commercial negotiations. In recent years, he was a Specialist Advisor to KPMG and Interim CEO of Infrastructure Australia.

He is Chairman of Infranexus Management Pty Ltd (an IFM Investors subsidiary) and a Director on the Infrastructure Australia Board. John’s previous positions include Chair of Canberra Light Rail, Evolution Rail Pty Ltd and NSW Government’s Sydney International Convention Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct project Boards, and Director of Victorian Funds Management Corporation, Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Port of Melbourne Corporation and Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Boards.

Prior to joining KPMG in 2011, John was Deputy Secretary at the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF). Before joining DTF in 2000, John predominantly had an investment banking background.

John holds a Master of Public Infrastructure (Research) from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria).

A portrait of John Fitzgerald

Shelley Penn AM, Deputy Chair

Shelley Penn is a Melbourne-based architect, urbanist and non-executive director. Her current work is founded on 15 years traditional architectural practice, including seven years leading her own works, which have been recognised through awards, publication and exhibition in Australia and overseas. In 2000, her focus shifted to encompass strategic advice to government and the private sector on achievement of high-quality outcomes in public architecture and urban design.

Shelley is currently an independent member of the Advisory Board of the Office of Projects Victoria, and Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Woden Project Board. She is also the Monash University Architect, an Adjunct Professor in Architecture Practice at Monash University, Associate Professor in Architecture at the University of Melbourne, and a member of State Design Review Panels in Victoria, NSW, WA and the ACT.

Key past roles include Non-executive Director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Chair of the National Capital Authority, National President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Associate Victorian Government Architect and Co-chair, Barangaroo Review 2011. In 2014, she was named an Australian Financial Review/Westpac ‘100 Women of Influence’ in the Public Policy Category. Through practice, advocacy and advisory work, Shelley is committed to improving social outcomes, enriching culture and sustainability through advancing the quality of the built environment. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021.

Shelly Penn AM, Deputy Chair

Jennifer Cunich

Jennifer is a property industry leader and high-profile figure in Melbourne and Canberra’s business community. With more than 25 years’ experience in both industry and professional organisations, Jennifer is a trusted and well-known advisor to state and national governments. She has a vast knowledge of the development and building industries. Jennifer is acutely aware of the necessity for good planning and the benefits of same to Australian communities.

An influential and experienced business leader and executive, with a solid understanding of governance, finances, reform and team leadership, Jennifer possesses astute commercial acumen and has a demonstrated track record enhancing the financial performance of organisations. Jennifer brings to the Board skills of leadership, financial literacy, corporate finance and capital management, finance/audit and risk management, overseeing public land sales, master planning communities, prioritising organisational culture and diversity, judgement involving good business instincts; astute commercial acumen; objectivity and assessments based on evidence.

Jennifer is the current independent Chairperson of the Australian Housing and Research Institute.

Portrait of Jennifer Cunich

David Fisher

David has a career in the provision of property development delivery including urban renewal; public/private and joint venture partnerships; social and affordable housing; and mixed tenure developments in the UK and Australia including large scale urban renewal programs in Glasgow and Manchester.

As an experienced CEO with financial, governance and compliance experience, David has proven leadership abilities spanning different countries and jurisdictions. David is currently the Chair of Homelessness NSW and former President of NSW Council of Social Services.

 

Portrait of David Fisher

Guy Gibson

Guy Gibson has a long career in town planning and urban development, including 25 years with Lendlease. When he retired from Lendlease in October 2021, he was the Head of Development in Queensland, with responsibility for five master planned community projects, and two urban regeneration projects.

He was previously the General Manager of Lendlease’s Communities business in Queensland, as well as having national roles for Lendlease in Government Relations, and Affordable Housing and Sustainability. During his career at Lendlease, he worked on over thirty new community projects, covering site identification and acquisition, conversion, planning and design, delivery, marketing, and sales.

Prior to joining Lendlease in 1996, Guy was Director of Town Planning at Brisbane City Council (BCC) from 1993 to 1996 and Project Manager of the Council’s Urban Renewal Program from 1991 to 1993. Before joining BCC in 1987, he worked for the National Capital Development Commission in Canberra.

Guy is a graduate of the University of Queensland Planning School. He is an Honorary Life Member and past President of the Property Council of Australia (Queensland) and a previous National Director of the Property Council of Australia. He is a Board Member of ‘Brisbane Sustainability Agency’ and ‘Suburban Futures’, a not-for-profit established to promote a better understanding of the important role of the suburban economy in the life of our cities, through shared insights, information and analysis. He has contributed to numerous advisory committees and professional boards including: ‘Urban Futures Brisbane’, a Board established by the Brisbane City Council to provide strategic advice to Council on planning and implementing Brisbane’s development future; and is currently a member of Queensland’s Housing Supply Expert Panel, and Economic Development Queensland’s Expert Panel. Guy is a member of the AICD.

Portrait of Guy Gibson

Clare Petre

Clare has worked in the government, community and media sectors for a significant amount of time. She was the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW for over 16 years and prior to that was a Senior Assistant Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Clare was previously a Board member of City West Housing and Energy Consumers Australia, and has served on a range of NSW and Commonwealth government advisory bodies. She chaired the consumer advisory panels for ASIC and the Credit & Insurance Ombudsman, and was Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association. Clare is currently the Customer Advocate (Wealth Remediation) for NAB, Chair of the New Energy Tech Consumer Code Council, Chair of the Independent Accountability Panel for the Energy Charter, Chair of the Code of Conduct Committee of the Australian Council for International Development, and Deputy Chair of the Asylum Seekers Centre.

She has a Master’s degree in Social Administration (LSE), Bachelor of Social Studies and Diploma of Criminology (Sydney), and is member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Portrait of Clare Petre

Ken Wood

Ken has a breadth of experience in management, finance, risk, compliance and integrity.

From November 2001 to December 2021, Ken held a critical management, compliance and integrity role at AFL, responsible for the compliance of AFL Clubs and Players with the AFL Player Rules and Collective Bargaining Agreement. This encompassed management and compliance of Clubs with the Salary Cap including investigations, approval of all Player agreements, management of the Football Department Soft Cap and management of the movement of Players through the Trade Period, Free Agency and the National Draft.

Prior to the AFL, Ken was with international chartered accounting firm, Ernst & Young where he held various positions from Manager, Corporate Audit, Director, Corporate Finance and in management positions as National General Manager, Corporate Finance and General Manager of the Melbourne Office. These roles included being responsible for both private and listed company audits, running internal compliance programs for the integrity of audit and corporate finance practices, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements advising on company sales and purchases, negotiating deals and valuing businesses.

Ken is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Master of Finance from Melbourne University, and is a member of AICD and the AFLPA Agent Accreditation Board.

Portrait of Ken Wood

Board meeting minutes

As part of its Open Government Strategy, the ACT Government is committed to:

  • transparency in process and information
  • participation by citizens in the governing process
  • public collaboration in finding solutions to problems and participation in the improved well-being of the community

With this in mind, we publish approved Board minutes as soon as possible after each meeting.

Board meeting 80 - 1 August 2023
Board Meeting Minutes 2023 (.DOCX 819 KB) download icon
Board meeting 80 - 1 August 2023
Board Meeting Minutes 2023 (.PDF 604 KB) download icon
Board meeting 79 - 4 July 2023
Board Meeting Minutes 2023 (.DOCX 822 KB) download icon
Board meeting 79 - 4 July 2023
Board Meeting Minutes 2023 (.PDF 600 KB) download icon
Board Meeting 78 - 6 June 2023
Board Meeting Minutes 2023 (.PDF 605 KB) download icon (.DOCX 817 KB) download icon
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Board resources

Our Board and its subcommittees are guided by these charters:

Housing Strategic Action Plan - 2022
Strategies Publications & Reports 2022 (.PDF 4.72 MB) download icon
Housing Strategic Action Plan - 2023
Strategies Publications & Reports 2023 (.PDF 1.37 MB) download icon
Sustainability Strategy 2020-25
Strategies 2020 (.PDF 8.97 MB) download icon
Indicative Land Release Program
Policies Strategies 2023 (.PDF 10.1 MB) download icon

Other resources

If you are looking for any other documents that we use to govern Suburban Land Agency, please view our resource library.

View all SLA resources

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Acknowledgement artwork by Leilani Keen-Church

Artwork by Leilani Keen-Church

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