Friday 11 April 2025
MEDIA RELEASE
Urban Boundary Must Be Matched with Planning System Reform
The Property Council of Australia has warned that the ACT Government’s decision to draw a line under future urban sprawl must avoid shutting the door on well-located greenfield opportunities and be matched with meaningful reforms to unlock more homes within existing suburbs.
Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the announcement of an urban growth boundary sharpened the need to tackle long-standing barriers to infill development – starting with Lease Variation Charges (LVC) and third-party appeal rights.
“Ruling out future greenfield growth would mean we have no choice but to get smarter within the existing footprint, and right now, the system is standing in the way,” Ms Berry said.
“We need all options on the table to fix Canberra’s housing crisis. Restricting supply, particularly in areas already under investigation for future growth, may prove short-sighted.
“The current investment and tax settings in the ACT actively discourage urban renewal. Our research shows LVC is making many infill projects financially unviable, and third-party appeals – particularly to ACAT – create delays and uncertainty that discourage investment.
“We need a more joined-up approach, and that means clearer planning rules, fairer charges, and a system that supports more diverse housing types,” she said.
The Property Council’s Unlocking 60,000 Homes report, released last year, showed that modernising the ACT’s zoning system could deliver more than 60,000 new homes – more than half the infill target set for 2060 – while preserving Canberra’s green character and quality of life.
Ms Berry said the Property Council would continue working with the ACT Government to push for practical reforms that increase housing choice for Canberra families.
“The ACT needs 165,000 new homes by 2060, and that won’t happen unless we unlock more housing supply including in the ‘missing middle’ – terraces, townhouses, and low-rise apartments.
“With thoughtful reform, we can deliver tens of thousands of new homes, protect Canberra’s character, and avoid unsustainable urban sprawl. But planning rules still make it too hard to build the kinds of homes people want in well-located areas close to schools, jobs, and transport.
“We support the vision of a compact, sustainable city. But we can’t meet our housing goals with one hand tied behind our back. It’s time to remove the barriers, unlock more land – both infill and greenfield – and build the homes our growing city needs,” she said.
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Media: Andrew Parkinson | 0404 615 596 | [email protected]