The largest transformation in Canberra's City Centre history is underway, with significant construction milestones being reached across a range of city-shaping projects.
Major progress is being made on Light Rail Stage 2A, the new lyric theatre and the first stage of the UNSW Canberra City campus, as the ACT Government continues to invest in infrastructure that will support Canberra's growth and liveability.
Together, these projects represent a once-in-a-generation investment that is reshaping Canberra's City Centre.
They are improving connectivity, activating public spaces and supporting future economic growth.
They join other major city-shaping projects the Government is progressing, including the Canberra Aquatic Centre and the National Convention and Entertainment Centre.
Light Rail Stage 2A
Light Rail Stage 2A has reached a major milestone, with the project achieving 100 per cent completion of the track slab.
Following 18 months of critical works in London Circuit East, the Light Rail construction compound in the Theatre Lane car park is being dismantled, with the area reopening as public parking.
From 31 October 2026, 57 parking bays including 8 accessible parking spaces, will reopen to the community. These bays will be zoned for 2-hour use and free after 5.30pm from Wednesday to Sunday evenings.
Shortly after the car park reopens, London Circuit East is planned to partially reopen to traffic, enabling drivers and cyclists to travel along London Circuit East, past the Theatre Lane car park, and turn left onto Northbourne Avenue, for the first time since it closed in early 2025.
Construction fencing will also continue to be removed as works are completed and public spaces are returned to the community.
Works on the three new light rail stops have recently been completed with columns and canopies now in place and platform fit-out currently underway.
In the coming weeks, Canberrans will start to see a more permanent view of Commonwealth Avenue, with the scaffolding at City South and Commonwealth Park stops beginning to come down.
Later this year a unique artwork for the Edinburgh Avenue stop will also be installed by local artist Hannah Quinlivan.
The project remains on track to complete construction in the first half of next year as testing and commissioning gets underway ready for passenger services in 2028.
New lyric theatre
Canberra's new lyric theatre continues to take shape, with the structure on track to top out in early 2027.
At the beginning of the year, Multiplex will install structural steel and commence façade works, revealing more of the building's distinctive architectural form.
Cranes will remain active on site as materials are delivered and lifted into place to support the next stage of construction.
As the building continues to rise from the ground, Canberrans will begin to see the shape of the new lyric theatre emerge on the city skyline.
Throughout 2027, construction will transition to the fit-out phase, including the installation of seating, stage infrastructure and the specialist technical systems that will bring the venue's performance spaces to life.
With construction completion scheduled for mid-2028, the new lyric theatre will have a larger capacity than existing theatres at the Canberra Theatre Centre. This will allow Canberra to host major national and international musicals, ballet shows, operas and contemporary touring productions and acts that currently can't come to our city.
UNSW Canberra City
Significant progress is being made on the first stage of the UNSW Canberra City campus, with main construction works now underway on the two new education and research buildings at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street.
Ground preparation activities are nearing completion, with approximately 70,000 tonnes of material excavated and removed from the site. Foundation piling is also now complete, with 744 piles installed to support the new buildings.
Construction activity will continue to ramp up over coming months, with a crane onsite in November and the first basement concrete pour planned before the end of 2026. The new facilities are on track for completion in 2028.
In the meantime, UNSW is already operating from the former Canberra Institute of Technology site in Reid, supporting teaching, short courses and community engagement while the new facilities are built.
Once complete, the UNSW Canberra City campus will bring students, researchers and industry partners into the heart of Canberra, supporting innovation, strengthening connections between education and government, and contributing to a more vibrant City Centre.
