More mid-rise housing between Parliament House and the Woden Valley would be built under a vision for the corridor the government said would better connect the capital's growing population with public transport.
The proposal for the corridor would limit high-rise apartment buildings to the Woden town centre and higher-density homes to a new residential precinct at North Curtin, with the government also promising to protect and expand the ovals at Deakin.
Planning Minister Chris Steel will on Wednesday unveil the draft southern gateway planning and design framework, setting out the government's plans for transit-oriented development in the corridor over the next quarter of a century and beyond.
"More people living in these locations will see a greater uptake of public and active transport options, creating sustainable communities that meet the city's climate goals. Improvements to public transport services and active travel infrastructure will support this demand," Mr Steel said.
Urban villages would be created in Deakin, West Deakin, Curtin and Mawson, while the government wants to make the transport spine "multimodal, safer and greener" with mid-rise housing development in appropriate locations along the corridor.
"Large parts of the corridor spine operate like urban motorways; it is characterised by fast traffic and few, if any, safe crossings. With light rail stage 2B proposing five new light rail stops along the corridor, these roads can become safer, greener, more connected places," the government said.
The draft framework splits the corridor into four areas - Adelaide Avenue, Yarra Glen Drive, north Woden and Callam Street, and Athllon Drive - and suggests a renewal agency may be needed to drive the changes.
"Adelaide Avenue was originally conceived in the Griffin Plan as a formal, tree-lined and active boulevard with dense development along the public transport corridor, serviced by light rail," the draft framework said.
"The framework seeks to take steps to realise this vision by reintroducing key design elements that reinforce its role as a main avenue and approach route to Parliament House."
The draft said steep slopes and the current road layout in areas to be served by the planned light rail extension made new buildings along the corridor more complex and work would be needed to create opportunities for "gentle densification" that would progress "over the coming decades".
"The corridor aims to realise the original Griffin vision for the built form of main avenues with residential intensification and commercial activity supported by public transport. The transport spine will become multimodal, supporting safe and efficient movement of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users as a priority and freeing up the roads for the cars and trucks that need them," the draft framework said.
"Existing green open spaces along the edge of the transport spine present opportunities for enhancement, supporting Canberra's identity as a city set within the landscape.
"Parts of Yarralumla Creek within this green space could be progressively improved and investigated for potential restoration to a more natural channel, where appropriate."
Maps included in the draft framework show areas in Yarralumla, Deakin, Curtin, Hughes, Lyons, Chifley, Swinger Hill, Pearce, Mawson, Torrens and Farrer as having the potential for increased housing density, but the government's document said this would be subject to further investigation.
The government wants local and group centres within the precinct to "grow into walkable urban villages", where more residents living close to shops and businesses encourage investment in renewal projects, ultimately boosting foot traffic and the viability of local businesses.
An area north of Strickland Crescent in Deakin could be turned into a vibrant, mixed-use precinct with redevelopment of government-owned car parks a potential catalyst, the document said.
"Shop-top and shop-adjacent housing in these centres, combining homes above or near commercial uses, provides an opportunity to encourage the renewal and vibrancy of the corridor's group and local centres," the draft framework said.
The trades and services area at Phillip would be protected from residential development to ensure future residents had convenient access to businesses but the government was open to feedback on the area's future.
The draft framework said Yarra Glen Drive was envisioned as a "parkland boulevard" and Athllon Drive would become a "nature avenue" with new mid-rise development along the corridor.
The Woden town centre would feature incorporate more higher-density development along with improvements to footpaths and active travel access.
"Efforts to soften Woden's concrete and asphalt design legacy should continue, building on successful placemaking and landscape design outcomes on Bradley Street (undertaken by Scentre Group) and the establishment of the Woden CIT Campus western and northern plazas," the draft framework said.
Public consultation on the draft framework for the corridor, which extends from Parliament House to Beasley Street in Torrens and Farrer, will be open until September 15.
