The Australian Capital Territory Government assures that the environmentally certified Molonglo Valley development will be affordable even for new home buyers.

An estimated 20 per cent of the development has been set aside specifically for affordable housing with units selling for less than US$330,000.

David Dawes of the ACT Department of Land and Property Services said that properties will be equipped to make full use of solar energy and recycling. "What we are doing here in the ACT is we are ensuring that we have solar envelope guidelines," he said. "That's a first for Australia and obviously the ACT. What we are also doing is what we are wanting to maximize solar access.

"In our multi-unit developments we are mandating that they must be seven stars," he added.

The project stands out for being the first in the area to be given a sustainability certification by the Urban Development Institute of Australia. "We have a situation where we have 20 per cent of any new estate must be affordable. Over the next two years we will be taking 10,000 blocks to the market. This will certainly have an impact on prices in the longer term," he said.

The project plans on building more than 50,000 units in Wright and Coombs suburbs in next two decades. It is one of the largest land development in Canberra so far. It will be located between Mount Stromlo and Black Mountain while offering sustainable modern living and touting easy access to downtown Canberra.