The Department of Finance is leading the development of a National Security Office Precinct (the Precinct) at York Park in Barton, ACT. The Precinct will provide a permanent solution to the critical accommodation and capability requirements of several national security and other Commonwealth agencies.
York Park (Section 5, Block 1) is a prominent Commonwealth owned site within Barton, currently used as a temporary car park. The site is bounded by Brisbane Avenue, State Circle, the York Park Oak Plantation and Windsor Walk. This site was chosen for the National Security Office Precinct by the Department of Finance in consultation with the National Capital Authority.
Consistent with the requirements of the National Capital Plan (NCP), the precinct approach will maximise the development potential of the site by addressing multiple accommodation requirements.
The Precinct and associated infrastructure will have a number of public and private tenants and is expected to be utilised by a range of Commonwealth entities including the Office of National Intelligence and parts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Precinct is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 workers, and will include hospitality and retail amenities servicing both the Precinct occupants and wider public.
As an enabling project to the Precinct's development, a multi-level car park will be constructed adjacent to the John Gorton Building in Parkes, ACT (referred to as the John Gorton Campus Car Park).
John Gorton Campus Car Park indicative concept design (subject to relevant Government approvals).
The John Gorton Campus Car Park will replace displaced car parking on the York Park site and also support worker and visitor amenity, including for nearby cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery and the future Ngurra Cultural Precinct.
The Car Park supports the objectives of the John Gorton Campus as set out in the NCP, and will also include additional public amenities such as a childcare centre accommodating approximately 170 placements.
To minimise disruptions in the area, particularly relating to the accessibility of parking, the proposed development will be staged:
- Stage 1: John Gorton Campus Car Park – construction proposed to commence mid 2023 with completion in late 2024.
- Stage 2: York Park Precinct – construction proposed to commence early 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Project will provide a permanent solution to the critical accommodation and capability requirements of several national security and other Commonwealth agencies.
- The Project delivers on the unique opportunity to deliver a multi-agency precinct, which maximises the value of the location, delivers on critical accommodation and capability requirements and provides a value for money outcome.
- The Precinct will be an enduring sovereign asset that will provide a secure, fit for purpose solution that enables agencies to effectively deliver on their outcomes, now and into the future.
- A number of Government agencies are reaching, or at capacity within their existing accommodation, which are not fully fit for purpose and do not provide capacity for future growth in role or capability.
- The Precinct and associated infrastructure will have a number of public and private tenants and is expected to be utilised by a range of Commonwealth entities including the Office of National Intelligence, and parts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- The tenants for the Precinct will be finalised following the completion of detailed planning and functional design work, which is expected to be completed in mid-2023.
- In scoping locations for the Precinct, the Department of Finance and National Capital Authority (NCA) identified the temporary on-grade car park at York Park as suitable for development into a multi-agency Precinct.
- York Park is a large Commonwealth-owned development site in Barton and is identified in the National Capital Plan (NCP) for development into an office precinct for Commonwealth agencies that have a need to be located in close proximity to Parliament House.
- The John Gorton Campus Car Park will replace displaced car parking on the York Park site and also support worker and visitor amenity, including for nearby cultural institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery and the future Ngurra Cultural Precinct.
- The development of the John Gorton Campus Car Park is consistent with the NCP and has been planned in a way that complements the future development of this campus.
- The proposed development has been staged to minimise disruption to parking supply.
- The John Gorton Campus Car Park will offset the loss of the existing temporary on-grade parking at the York Park site, with the development providing approximately 1,100 car spaces in a multi-level car park, within close vicinity for nearby workers.
- The John Gorton Campus Car Park is intended to be completed before work on the Precinct structure commences.
- It is Finance’s intention to deliver a Precinct which incorporates exemplary sustainable design across the lifecycle of the asset.
- The Project is being developed in alignment with relevant environmental and sustainability requirements, including the APS Net Zero target. The Precinct development will be designed to target a NABERS 6 star rating for the base building.
- Both developments will be provisioned with electrical infrastructure for EV charging stations, and the John Gorton Campus Car Park will utilise recyclable construction materials and an open façade to promote natural ventilation.
- The Department of Finance will continue to engage with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in relation to the Referral assessment of the works under the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
- The future development of the Precinct will not impact the York Park Oak Tree Plantation which is included on the Commonwealth Heritage list.
- The York Park Oak Plantation is next to the Precinct development site, but will not be impacted during the construction of the Precinct.
- Stage 1:The John Gorton Campus Car Park is anticipated to commence construction in mid-2023 with expected completion of the structure in late 2024.
- Stage 2: The National Security Office Precinct is anticipated to commence construction in early 2025.
- The Project has been under development for a number of years with initial and final business cases and planning and initial design work completed.
- The Project received Government Second Stage Capital Works Approval as part of the October 2022 Budget.
- The Project is currently in the early planning stages, with construction anticipated to commence from mid-2023 for the John Gorton Campus Car Park and early 2025 for the Precinct.
- The overall Project financials are not for publication due to the commercial-in-confidence and national security sensitivities, so no details of the overall Project funding will be disclosed at this time.
- The Department of Finance has engaged Lendlease to deliver the National Security Office Precinct located at York Park in Barton, following a competitive procurement process.
- Lendlease is a global construction, investments and development company that has been delivering projects across Australia for over 70 years.
- Construction on the Precinct is proposed to commence in early 2025.
- Lendlease has been appointed as the Managing Contractor to deliver the National Security Office Precinct. Lendlease will engage construction companies and trade services to deliver the project.
- Email NSOP@lendlease.com to find out about potential opportunities.
Media Release
Contact
The Department of Finance is leading the development of the Project, all enquiries should be directed to NSOP.enquiries@finance.gov.au.