Molonglo 3 East
SMEC played a key role in shaping the strategic design for Molonglo 3 East (M3E), one of Canberra’s next major urban expansion areas, delivering integrated planning and infrastructure solutions to support a resilient, connected, and environmentally sustainable community.
The ACT Government’s Planning Strategy 2018 and Territory Plan 2023 identified M3E as a key expansion area. Located in Canberra’s Molonglo Valley district, M3E will contain the final three future suburbs in the district and accommodate approximately 30,000 residents. The district is projected to grow to 70,000 people by 2050.
Appointed under the Preliminary Roads and Earthworks Design and Urban Water Strategy and Concept Plans contract, SMEC worked closely with the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) and key stakeholders to develop an integrated framework for roads, transport, and water-sensitive urban design (WSUD).
25
decentralised WSUD sites, improving stormwater management efficiency by 30%.
220000
AUD projected savings per hectare, by utilising distributed WSUD
6.5
km
of strategic road networks designed to integrate with future public transport corridors
Challenge
SMEC’s multi-disciplinary approach addressed the core challenges of planning a liveable and sustainable precinct, ensuring a logical and well-integrated urban structure.
Land use, environment and mobility:
- Urban planning and land use strategy: The development of M3E required a comprehensive planning framework that addressed zoning, land use mix, and the integration of residential, commercial, and community spaces. The precinct had to support diverse housing types while ensuring a logical transition between urban areas and conservation zones.
- Environmental & topographical constraints: The site’s steep terrain, proximity to the Molonglo River Corridor, and bushfire-prone landscapes necessitated careful engineering solutions to mitigate erosion, manage stormwater, and optimise land use.
- Sustainable stormwater management: Traditional stormwater detention basins were found to be expensive and disruptive, prompting the need for an integrated, decentralised WSUD approach.
- Transport and accessibility: Ensuring efficient movement across the district while planning for future public transit integration was a complex challenge requiring multi-modal transport solutions.
Innovative Solutions & Value
As part of the scope, SMEC delivered planning advice, preliminary road and earthworks design, strategic water infrastructure and WSUD planning, transport and active travel network planning, and geotechnical and environmental assessments.
Water management was a key opportunity for innovation. Shifting away from traditional large-scale detention basins to a distributed stormwater management system, reducing costs while improving water quality, ecological resilience, and urban cooling.
The transport network was carefully structured to support multi-modal movement, ensuring prioritised active travel routes, integrated public transport corridors, and infrastructure ready for light rail expansion. Walkable neighbourhoods and well-connected movement corridors were fundamental to improving mobility and reducing car dependency.
Digital engineering played a pivotal role in optimising the planning outcomes. SMEC applied GIS mapping, digital terrain modelling, and 3D analysis to optimise earthworks and reduce cut-and-fill volumes, achieving significant cost efficiencies. These tools also enabled evidence-based planning decisions, ensuring that land use allocations were informed by topographical, environmental, and infrastructure constraints.
M3E exemplifies how strategic partnerships can transform urban development. The team’s collaboration extended beyond regulatory compliance, demonstrating shared values and a commitment to making Molonglo 3 East a model of sustainability and climate-responsive design.
A benchmark for Sustainable Urban Growth
Molonglo 3 East is set to redefine best practice for integrated land use and infrastructure planning, delivering a climate-adaptive, liveable community that supports Canberra’s long-term urban growth strategy. By aligning land use, transport, and environmental planning, the project ensures a balanced and resilient urban framework that meets future community needs.
Planning and Design Constraints and Opportunities
The innovative distributed WSUD system, combined with strategic transport planning, ensures that M3E is climate-responsive and cost-efficient. By applying best-practice digital engineering, SMEC optimised development footprints, safeguarded ecological corridors, and ensured seamless integration with existing suburbs. This collaborative effort sets a new benchmark for sustainable and infrastructure-led urban planning in the ACT.
This study and the information provided are preliminary and high-level, with further work underway by the SLA on the future planning and design of the M3E area, starting with the newly announced suburbs of Bandler and Sulman (Jan 2025).
Prioritising environmental sustainability, community well-being, and economic efficiency M3E sets a precedent for future government-industry partnerships.
Key Outcomes & Achievements
- Integrated planning & transport strategy: The project successfully aligned land use planning with strategic transport corridors, ensuring that key precincts are well-connected and future-proofed.
- Sustainability: The distributed WSUD system will improve water retention, reduce pollution runoff, and enhance biodiversity, creating a healthier urban environment.
- Cost savings: Shifting from traditional large-scale detention basins to a decentralised stormwater management approach resulted in an estimated $220,000 per hectare savings over the 30-year project lifecycle.
- Active travel prioritisation: 35% of the total road network is dedicated to pedestrian and cycling pathways, supporting the ACT’s climate and liveability goals.
- Climate-resilient design: Fire-resilient landscape planning, erosion control measures, and biodiversity corridors ensure long-term environmental sustainability while protecting high-value ecological areas.
- Enhanced community outcomes: The planning framework ensures provision for schools, commercial hubs, and open space, fostering a walkable, vibrant, and socially connected community.
Ready
to
connect?
Talk to one of our specialists about our role on Molonglo 3 East project.