Building our Neighbourhoods

Every person in Canberra deserves to live in a suburb with infrastructure and green space that encourages people of all ages to meet, explore, exercise, and play. 

While coronavirus has shown us the importance of connected, well-resourced communities, our neighbourhoods often force people off the streets and into their cars. This is leading to congestion, pollution, stress, the decline in local business, and a loss of connection to place. 

Canberrans need an alternative. That’s why we will invest heavily in local infrastructure and bring the community together to decide what their neighbourhood needs.

Map - 10 years of Greens achievements in the Legislative Assembly

Our Plan

Promote schools as communities to deliver a world class education system that is inclusive, safe, healthy and supportive More »
Build a Canberra-wide walking and cycling network to ensure everyone has the option to ride and walk where they want to go More »
Invest in community facilities More »
Build local infrastructure so everyone can enjoy their neighbourhood More »
Green our suburbs to reduce urban heat, increase local biodiversity, and make our streets and parks more enjoyable More »
Give the community control over what their neighbourhood looks like More »
Build resilient, sustainable, local food production to make Canberra Australia’s first and leading Food Garden City More »
Reform our planning system to guarantee high-quality, sustainable development that the community has a say in More »
Pay local, professional artists to produce original works and engage the community with art More »

READ OUR POLICY PLATFORM

Facts

 

Build local infrastructure so everyone can enjoy their neighbourhood

  • Light up our neighbourhoods by ensuring that footpaths, bus stops and parks have street lights so people feel safe in and around their homes
  • Invest in shared spaces, including parks, toilet facilities, playgrounds, community gardens, and exercise equipment, to create quality public space for people to meet, exercise, and enjoy
  • Increase the number of City Services staff, so that Fix my Street requests are more quickly and comprehensively responded to

Green our suburbs to reduce urban heat, increase local biodiversity, and make our streets and parks more enjoyable

  • Plant and care for tens of thousands of trees in order to reach 30% tree canopy coverage across every suburb in the ACT - our new suburbs swelter due to the mass razing of trees
  • Construct more urban wetlands and nature reserves, to reduce urban heat, improve water quality, and increase local biodiversity
  • Expand ACT Government funding for community-initiated environment and biodiversity management 
  • Create new wildlife hollows

Give the community control over what their neighbourhood looks like

  • Establish a participatory budgeting program giving each suburb an average of $100,000 to be spent on local infrastructure programs proposed and agreed upon by the community
  • Support local community initiatives by:
    1. Removing unnecessary regulatory barriers 
    2. Improving government advice and support
    3. Clarifying to government departments on legalities of these entities
    4. Giving people aged 16 and 17 years the option to vote in ACT election
  • Build or repurpose community meeting spaces across Canberra to give more access for community use

Reform our planning system to guarantee high-quality, sustainable development that the community has a say in. Our plan will:

  • Substantially lift the quality and sustainability of the design and construction of new developments
  • Give the community a real say in how their neighbourhood develops
  • Better protect our trees and green space
  • Ensure the planning and housing system delivers affordable housing that is environmentally friendly, maintains green space and fits in with our urban heritage
  • Better protect Canberra’s heritage, including viewlines and national heritage areas