2023-06-06
The ACT Greens have today helped bring in an amended planning bill with strengthened environmental protections, better transparency and the ability to genuinely tackle the housing crisis. The bill passed the Legislative Assembly after months of negotiations and a substantive debate.
“This is the biggest and one of the most important pieces of legislation in this term of the Assembly,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury.
“Through our extensive negotiations on this legislation the ACT Greens have been focussed on delivering the city we know our community wants – one that is climate friendly and climate resilient, easy to get around and has a range of housing types that people can afford.
“The ACT Greens have listened to the community and worked hard to get this right,” said Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Planning..
“The Bill tabled last September could not give Canberra the planning system we need so Greens Ministers left Cabinet to work on it,” said Ms Clay. “I’m pleased to say that all 125 amendments that were negotiated between the Greens and the Labor parties have passed.”
“The Canberra Liberals did not put forward any amendments despite having had ample opportunity to engage with this major piece of law.
“To protect our environment, we’ve integrated consideration of environmental laws into the bill, and built in increased protections for locally threatened species. We’ve also introduced the concept of cumulative impact, which is essential to protect the environment from ‘death by a thousand cuts’. We’ve extended the time period people have to comment on environmental impact statements. We’ve restored Greenfields appeal rights to protect our woodlands, grasslands and wilderness.
“Our planning system will need to address genuine emissions reduction, not just net-zero targets. It must consider our climate change strategy and consider access to public and active transport.
“We have ensured statutory recognition to Design Guides, meaning both developers and decision-makers must demonstrate how they have been responded to. The design guides are critical new documents that provide in-depth guidance for proposed developments on how to achieve the objects and principles of good planning in the bill. This includes embedding consideration of the Living Infrastructure Plan in the Ddesign Gguides and ensuring we have enough room for trees and green spaces in our city and suburbs.
“We’ve included a new principle of good planning to make sure development provides more affordable housing, not just more housing. Additionally, with transport costs increasing, we need housing with access to public and active transport.
“We’ve introduced political accountability into the system. Territory Priority Projects will be subject to a decision in the Assembly. A governance review will be completed within 12 months and tabled in the Assembly.
“We’ve reintroduced citizen enforcement for inappropriate development. We’ve strengthened the principles of good consultation in line with principles of prior and informed consent. We’ve introduced early consultation at the design stage and ensured consultation is well-informed and is run with those directly affected as well as the general community.
“We understand why some in the community are nervous about a new planning system. But ultimately, Canberrans don’t like the way the city is being developed now and we need reform. We are confident that this bill gives us the architecture for a strong new planning system. We have also factored in several opportunities for review – with the governance review in the first year and a review of the entire planning system in 3 years.
The new planning system does not come into immediate effect. The Planning Act is supported by the interim Territory Plan, District Strategies, Design Guides, technical specifications and regulations. The rest of the package will come back to the Assembly for a decision.
“I look forward to continuing our work to make sure our system can give Canberra what we need, where we need it,”, said Ms Clay.
BACKGROUND
- Links to previous media releases from 5 June 2023, 1 June 2023, 10 May 2023, 3 May 2023, 4 April 2023, 30 March 2022, December 2022 and September 2022.
- Legislative Assembly Committee inquiry here.
- ACT Greens amendments here and explanatory statement here.