DEVELOPMENT is often an important and often controversial issue in the ACT.

In the past year Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has used call-in powers to override community consultation for Section 72 in Dickson and fast-track the approval for Common Ground; the Acton Waterfront development, formerly known as West Basin, was approved even though it had strong opposition during consultation (more than 140 of 187 submissions lodged opposed the project) and two years ago the ACT government approved a controversial application to build public housing on bushfire-prone land in Chapman. 

ACT Labor argues a 70/30 plan, when it comes to development, is key – that’s 70 per cent urban infill and 30 per cent green-space fill. 

The Canberra Liberals say they’ll release more land for standalone housing and townhouses, suggesting it’ll help reduce the cost of living pressures and “help more Canberrans get ahead”.

But where will these developments go? 

With the election looming, “CityNews” asks the two main parties their development plans for the territory. 

LABOR

ACT Labor planning and land management spokesperson for Mick Gentleman highlights the benefits of the party’s “70/30” approach:

“ACT Labor wants to continue building on our vision of Canberra as a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable city that is prepared for climate change.

“Managing the outward spread of our urban footprint limits our impact on the environment and better connects people to their jobs and each other. 

“It’s vital that we support growth and development in and around key centres and along major transport routes. This allows our suburbs to keep their low-rise character and prevents urban sprawl.

“We reduced the planned footprint of new suburbs in Gungahlin to protect native woodlands, grasslands and habitats and created new reserves for Canberrans to enjoy, including the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve. For example, Throsby was reduced to a quarter of the previously planned size with 1000 dwellings, down from 4000, to protect important box gum woodland.

“In the past two years over 70 per cent of all new housing has been delivered within Canberra’s existing urban footprint in line with the ACT Planning Strategy. The Canberra Liberals want to scrap this approach, which would balloon our urban footprint by over 46 per cent, creating dire ecological impacts, longer commutes, more expensive infrastructure and less equitable access to services”

LIBERAL

The Canberra Liberals say they’ll release more land for standalone housing and townhouses “to reduce the cost-of-living pressures and help more Canberrans get ahead”, however, they didn’t say how that will look. 

A Canberra Liberals’ spokeswoman slammed Labor’s “70/30″ approach, saying: “In a response to a question on notice, the Barr government confirmed that 90 per cent of its land release in 2017-18 was for compact and multi-unit dwellings and only 10 per cent for detached, single dwellings. 

“In the following year, only 28 per cent of land released was for single dwellings, while 72 per cent was for compact and multi-unit dwellings.

“This is despite a recent audit report showing almost 70 per cent of potential purchasers require larger homes, and a previous government issued survey showing 84 per cent of Canberrans saying their preference is for standalone housing.” 

While it doesn’t say too much about what the Liberals will do, Canberra Liberals’ leader Alistair Coe told “CityNews” last year that “the ACT’s got no shortage of land”. As part of a Canberra Liberals’ solution, he said there needs to be consistent and responsible releases of land at a faster rate. 

The western edge of Fyshwick and east of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve, on Dairy Road 

LABOR 

“The ACT government is currently seeking public feedback on a proposed draft variation to the territory plan that would allow up to 1300 homes at Dairy Road. The proposal provides a range of housing choices while being close to existing infrastructure and facilities. 

“The Western Edge is not on the Indicative Land Release Program. The Planning Directorate is undertaking investigations into the Western Edge to assess the sustainability of the area for future development.” 

LIBERAL

The Canberra Liberals did not comment on whether or not they have plans to build houses on Dairy Road. 

Acton Waterfront, formerly known as West Basin 

LABOR

“The Acton Waterfront Project will create high-quality, accessible lakeside public spaces that will encourage more people to enjoy Lake Burley Griffin.

“According to the City Renewal Authority, the next stage of work for the Acton Waterfront Project will include building more boardwalk, a new section of lake wall, lake reclamation, planted new trees and improving the cycle path, in preparation for the following stage, which will see recreational areas, public facilities and mixed-use buildings – ie commercial and residential buildings – built. 

LIBERAL

“The Canberra Liberals will not support Labor’s West Basin apartment precinct money grab. Labor’s skewed vision for a multi-unit utopia does not reflect the character of the ‘bush capital’. 

“Only the Canberra Liberals will protect the bush capital by planting and caring for one million trees and ensure well maintained green space within a 10-minute walk from every household. 

Kowen Forest and Tuggeranong’s grasslands, west of Murrumbidgee

LABOR

“Labor leader Andrew Barr has spoken in the ACT Legislative Assembly about protecting Tuggeranong’s natural grasslands, west of the Murrumbidgee, and Kowen Forest, from housing development, saying: ‘The pledge that I can give… is that a Labor government will not allow environmentally sensitive and community-use land – particularly the native grasslands in Tuggeranong, west of the Murrumbidgee, but also the Kowen Forest – to be bulldozed for urban development’.”

ACT Labor says it’s committed to putting the natural landscape ahead of urban sprawl, accusing the Canberra Liberals as being a threat to forests, grasslands and other wilderness areas, where Canberrans enjoy walking 

LIBERAL

In an address at a Canberra Liberals’ lunch at the National Press Club in October last year, leader Alistair Coe said they wouldn’t dismiss releasing land in Kowen Forest for houses. 

At the time, he also said they would not rule out west Tuggeranong, west of Molonglo and west of Weston Creek.

More recently, a Canberra Liberals’ spokeswoman accused the ACT Labor/Greens government of bulldozing Kowen Forest on a rolling basis, saying: “It’s a commercial pine plantation that supports the timber industry.” To back her claims, she refers to ACT government contract No. 2017.27531.210, which mentions crusher rolling, a process that involves physically breaking down logging residue and/or regrowth in order to improve access for subsequent site preparation operations and planting. 

Wait… isn’t Ginninderry ‘environmentally sensitive’? 

Noting ACT Labor’s opposition to release land in west Tuggeranong, due to it being “environmentally sensitive”, it seems odd that it would agree to build on yellow box red grassy woodland to the west of the ACT, in its Ginninderry development.

However, an ACT Labor spokesman says it underwent extensive environmental considerations and planning, including research into the Little Eagle to ensure appropriate protection measures are in place. 

“The corridor is an important natural asset crossing the ACT-NSW border and home to protected fauna and flora, including the Pink Tailed Worm Lizard and yellow box red gum grassy woodland,” he said. 

“We created a 600-hectare conservation reserve to offset the Ginninderry project and provide a wildlife corridor along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek. It also connects the Ginninderra Creek corridor in the ACT, which starts at Mulligans Flat conservation reserve and runs through Gungahlin and Belconnen, to the Murrumbidgee.” 

The Canberra Liberals have not said what their position is on the Ginninderry development. 

What about along Yarra Glen and Adelaide Avenue? Is that up for grabs?

LABOR

The National Capital Authority is responsible for development approvals along Adelaide Avenue.

LIBERAL

The Canberra Liberals believe that a section of the North Curtin Horse Paddocks, which was part of the controversial federal government/ACT government land swap, remains in the ACT government’s hands, and fears a re-elected ACT Labor government will build along Yarra Glen and Adelaide Avenue. 

In September, Liberal member for Murrumbidgee Giulia Jones told “CityNews” she fears a nine-hectare strip along Yarra Glen and Adelaide Avenue will become a multi-storey development under Labor. 

The Liberals have said they’ll abandon the ACT government’s proposed redevelopment of West Basin, and obstruct a Commonwealth deal to build a new embassy precinct on nearby horse paddocks in Curtin, retaining the paddocks for recreational use. They also won’t build along Yarra Glen and Adelaide Avenue.