A direct sale of land at Hawker Village shops to Woolworths should not proceed until the ACT government undertakes broad community consultation on the centre's future, a Legislative Assembly inquiry has concluded.
Inquiry Recommends Halt to Direct Sale Process
The inquiry, established following a community petition that garnered over 500 signatures against the sale, delivered its findings in December 2025. The committee explicitly recommended that no approval be given for any direct sale application at the Hawker Group Centre until recommended consultation is finished and the government's response is public.
This recommendation directly impacts Woolworths Group Limited, which applied to the ACT government in March 2024 to purchase four blocks of land, including the surface car park. The supermarket giant's plan involved building a new full-line supermarket, specialty shops, updated public areas, walkways, a playground, and parking.
Community Split on Vision for Hawker's Future
The committee's report highlighted a clear divide in the local community. While almost all residents agreed that Hawker Village needed some form of upgrade, opinions were split on Woolworths' specific proposal. Many residents expressed a strong attachment to the existing layout and atmosphere of the shops.
Woolworths argued that its current Metro store in Hawker could not meet local demand, forcing approximately 12,000 people in the primary catchment area to drive elsewhere for a full-range supermarket. However, Planning Minister Chris Steel had already told the company in March 2025 that its proposal did not meet government expectations, notably due to the lack of new housing within the precinct.
In response, Woolworths indicated to the inquiry a willingness to explore the feasibility of a mixed-use development including housing.
Call for a Proactive Government-Led Plan
The inquiry urged the ACT government to move away from a reactive approach. Instead of waiting for a corporate proposal to trigger consultation, the committee believes the government should proactively develop its own vision for Hawker's future through community engagement.
"The committee believes there is value in developing a plan for the area via consultation that can drive specific proposals in the future," the report stated. This plan would then be reflected in official planning documents.
This recommendation comes over a decade after a previous government redevelopment plan for Hawker shops was shelved in February 2012. That earlier proposal, which included apartments and an underground car park, failed to win community support after nearly three years of master planning.
The committee ultimately concluded that the success of any changes at Hawker Village would hinge on effective community consultation and the clear benefits delivered to local residents.
