Released: 17 December 2025
On 16 December 2025, DA-202443325 for the Phillip Pool site was approved by the independent Territory Planning Authority (the Authority) with conditions. The proposal is for demolition works and the construction of a mixed-use development with a new pool facility and café on the ground floor, two 13-storey residential towers with a total of 286 units, basement parking and associated works.
This development application (DA) was identified as a significant DA as it required consultation with the National Capital Design Review Panel. As such, the DA included 2 stages of public notification.
The DA was publicly notified for an extended period, from 21 November 2024 to 13 January 2025 and 119 written representations were received. Advice was provided by relevant entities, including as Transport Canberra and City Services, Sports and Recreation, Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Environment Protection Authority, ACT Health, Emergency Services Agency, Evoenergy and Icon Water.
All representations and entity advice was provided to the applicant. The applicant subsequently submitted a statement to the Authority to address matters raised. The applicant’s statement was again publicly notified from 24 April 2025 to 22 May 2025, and 40 written representations were received.
The DA was publicly notified for a third time from 18 August 2025 to 12 September 2025, following the submission of an amended proposal under section 168 of the Planning Act 2023 to address a request for further information from the Authority following an assessment of the DA.
The Authority assessed the application against the requirements of the Territory Plan and the Planning Act 2023. The Authority also considered all representations and entity advice prior to making a decision to conditionally approve the proposal.
This approval is for the first of 3 stages. It is anticipated that stages 2 & 3 will be lodged in the future.
This stage does not affect the operation of the existing 50m swimming pool, which has been indicated to be the subject of a future DA.
Some trees were identified as regulated trees under the Urban Forest Act 2023. The Authority considered the alternatives to the proposed development and determined that there was no reasonable alternative design to retain the trees.
Key design matters were identified in representations and entity advice and during the Authority’s assessment. Conditions have been imposed to address the design related matters, such as the level of on-site amenity, visual and acoustic protection, parking, trees and clarification on the mandatory pool facilities. Conditions were also imposed to require the Crown lease to be varied to permit the development.
These matters were addressed in the Authority’s decision as conditions of approval and outlined further in the reasons for the decision.
Further information on the decision, and related DA documentation, will be available online soon via the ACT Planning website.
– Statement ends –
Phone: 0401 766 218
