ACT Minister for Planning - Statement of Planning Priorities
Summary
The Minister for Planning, Chris Steel, has finalised the 2024-2025 Statement of Planning Priorities, which serves as a guiding document for the ACT Governments' Planning Directorate for the coming period. As one of the fastest growing cities, Canberra is estimated to reach a population of almost 700,000 by 2050. Strategic planning to meet the needs and demands of our growing community is essential to sustain and enhance the city’s current quality of life.
This Statement of Planning Priorities focuses on delivering diverse housing choices close to shopping centres and travel networks such as public transport and active travel infrastructure, to create a better-connected, accessible, and sustainable city.
The Statement of Planning Priorities will inform the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s (EPSDD) work as the government undertakes the next stage of work following the commencement of a new planning system in late 2023.
Key planning priorities in 2024-2025 are outlined as:
- Plan for more housing in and around key precincts, shops and rapid transport connections. A key priority will be the development of a new Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework which will establish an integrated land-use and transport plan for the extension of Canberra’s mass-transit light rail line to Woden.
- Enable diverse housing choices and increase the number of dwellings in the missing middle, such as town houses, terrace homes and low-rise apartment living.
- Plan for the growth of Canberra’s newest regions.
- Outline Canberra’s future job and innovation precincts.
- Support community needs across the ACT.
- Identify and commence planning for Territory Priority Projects.
- Provide for environmental protections.
- Focus on design and implementation for the new planning system.
These priorities are intended to be complementary to the existing Planning Strategy 2018, specific actions under the District Strategies and other relevant planning policies.