ACT Budget 2026/27: Quick Guide for the Built Environment
Handed down on 10 June 2026, the ACT 2026/27 Budget commits $1.1 billion in infrastructure investment in 2026/27 and $5.05 billion over five years to 2030/31.
Housing is the dominant headline, with the government describing this as the most significant investment in supply since self-government, but a substantial program of health, education, transport and community infrastructure will ensure that the construction pipeline is active across most sectors. New capital works account for $185 million in 2026/27 and $603 million across the five-year forward program, with the balance directed to works already in progress and asset renewal. For built environment professionals, this is a pipeline-building budget with a strong public sector focus and meaningful procurement activity across multiple sectors over the coming two to three years.
The following summary captures the key initiatives most relevant to built environment professionals.
Housing
The investment is housing is the standout story in this budget, with the government committing more than $630 million in capital funding in 2026/27 to expand and renew the public housing portfolio, alongside planning and land release measures designed to unlock private supply at scale.
Key investments include:
$360+ million for the delivery of an additional 450 public housing dwellings, contributing to the government's target of 13,200 public housing homes by the end of 2030
$180+ million for the public housing repairs and maintenance program, prioritising vacant property upgrades to return existing stock to the public housing pool
$90+ million of continued support for the Growing and Renewing Public Housing and Social Housing Accelerator programs, to ensure the committed targets of 1,000 property renewals and 400 net portfolio growth by June 2027 are met
Alongside the construction program, the budget invests in improving the quality and efficiency of housing delivery more broadly, committing:
$4.6 million over two years to support planning reform, technical studies and precinct readiness to accelerate housing delivery; and
$1 million to commission the Canberra House Pattern Book, developing pre-approved residential designs for dual occupancy, tri-occupancy, terraces and townhouses to reduce design costs and speed up approvals for missing middle housing types.
These measures sit alongside a broader land release program committing sites for close to 26,000 new homes over five years, with around 4,300 dwellings planned for release in 2026/27 alone, and 15% of suitable residential land releases reserved for public, community and affordable housing. Growth in greenfield areas, including the Molonglo Town Centre and Macnamara, is closely tied to enabling infrastructure delivery, making civil and community infrastructure works a consistent thread through the forward program.
Education
The education capital program centres on works-in-progress across several schools, with many nearing completion and a new wave of expansion projects beginning.
Key investments include:
$102.6 million for the delivery of a second public college for Gungahlin, for completion by the end of 2028
$61.75 million for the construction of Whitlam Primary School and Early Childhood Education Centre, targeting practical completion in January 2027
$36.7 million for the delivery of Stage 2 of the Whitlam School
$33 million for the Telopea Park High School modernisation
$18.7 million for the Majura Primary School modernisation, for completion by the end of 2028
$12.9 million for the Narrabundah College modernisation, targeting completion February 2027
Health
The new Northside Hospital anchors the health infrastructure program, with a commitment of $1.34 billion over seven years making it the largest single health infrastructure project in the Territory's history. This includes $96.3 million committed in 2026/27 as early works continue and main construction expected to commence in 2027/28. The hospital will include a state-of-the-art emergency department with dedicated paediatric short-stay and mental health support, a 14-bed intensive care unit, eight operating theatres, a Birth Centre, more than 200 new inpatient beds, and expanded outpatient and allied health spaces.
Beyond the Northside Hospital, the budget continues to facilitate the delivery of ongoing projects, including:
$32.2 million for construction of the Inner South Health Centre for completion in June 2028
$12.1 million for critical upgrades and rectification works at Canberra Hospital
$7.3 million for next steps in the Canberra Hospital Masterplan
$4.2 million for additional parking at the Canberra Hospital, targeting completion June 2027
Transport & Infrastructure
Transport investment in this budget continues a program of committed major road projects, with light rail Stage 2A to Commonwealth Park the defining long-term program, alongside several significant road projects progressing through construction.
Key investments include:
$629.1 million for the delivery of the Light Rail Stage 2A to Commonwealth Park, with completion targeted for January 2028
$107.3 million for upgrades to Monaro Highway
$100 million joint initiative to upgrade the Canberra to Sydney rail corridor, with the ACT contributing $25 million alongside Commonwealth and NSW Government funding
$92 million for the William Hovell Drive duplication, targeting completion December 2028
$79.9 million for the Athllon Drive duplication, targeting completion December 2029
$57.9 million for Molonglo Enabling Works, targeting completion December 2026
$38.2 million to progress the Delivering Light Rail to Woden program, with planning and approvals continuing for the further extension
$5.2 million for the Molonglo Parkway–Drive Connector design and early works
Community & Emergency Services
The budget delivers targeted investment in police, emergency services and community facilities, including $8.3 million for public building upgrades, $3.77 million for the new City Police Station and Headquarters, $2.5 million for early works for the Casey Emergency Services Station, and $2.1 million for planning of the Molonglo Valley Police Station.
Cultural, Tourism & Recreation
Cultural and sporting infrastructure is a meaningful feature of this budget, with the new Lyric Theatre the standout capital commitment alongside a strong program of sporting facility upgrades across the city.
Key investments include:
$321.1 million over three years for the delivery of a new Lyric Theatre at the Canberra Theatre Redevelopment, with completion targeted for July 2028
$37.5 million for the expansion of Belconnen Basketball Stadium, adding three courts, including a convertible show court capable of seating up to 1,800 spectators for higher-level competition
$33.9 million for Stage 1 construction of the Stromlo District Playing Fields, targeting completion in October 2028
$28.4 million for Stage 1 of the Kingston Arts Precinct, the initial stage prioritising parking and artist housing ahead of arts organisation buildings$18.2 million for upgrades to multiple sporting venues, including Canberra Stadium, Exhibition Park in Canberra, Manuka Oval, the National Arboretum Canberra and Stromlo Forest Park
$5.5 million for the Canberra Aquatic Centre at Commonwealth Park, with design and planning continuing
$3.8 million to progress the National Convention and Entertainment Centre to a construction-ready stage, through the development of a reference design, procurement plan and business case
$500,000 to enable the development of feasibility studies and concept designs for upgrades to sporting pavilions at primary AFL venues
What Now?
Housing is a core feature of this budget, with the scale of the public housing construction and renewal program translating into consistent work across new dwellings, vacant stock upgrades, and maintenance for businesses of all sizes and disciplines. Health and transport add significant long-duration projects to that base, and education, emergency services and cultural infrastructure round out a program that is active across most of Canberra's growth areas.
Pre-qualification with Infrastructure Canberra is the natural starting point for businesses not yet active in the ACT market, and it is worth ensuring your capability statement speaks clearly to public sector delivery and the project types this budget prioritises: residential construction at scale, health facility works, school construction and modernisation, road corridor upgrades, and community and cultural infrastructure. The agencies where relationships will count most over the next two to three years are Infrastructure Canberra, ACT Health Infrastructure, and the Education Directorate.
If you would like to talk through how to position your business for the opportunities in this budget, we would love to help. Book a free 30-minute call.
Sources:ACT 2026/27 Budget: Budget Outlook, ACT 2026/27 Budget: Budget at a Glance, ACT 2026/27 Budget: Budget Statements G: Infrastructure Canberra, RSM Global: ACT State Budget 2026/27 - Key Insights, ACT Government: ACT Budget 26-27: Investment in land release to support more homes in Canberra