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The project

Infrastructure Canberra (previously Major Projects Canberra) is proposing the construction of Light Rail Stage 2B, which would deliver approximately 10km of light rail from the approved Stage 2A Commonwealth Park stop on the northern side of Lake Burley Griffin, via the National Triangle, continuing onto Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen to a proposed Callam Street terminus in Woden Town Centre.

The key features of Light Rail Stage 2B (the Project) include:

  • approximately 10 kilometres (km) of light rail track between Commonwealth Park and Woden Town Centre, including light rail stops;
  • two alignment options being considered through the National Triangle, including:
    • Alignment Option 1: State Circle East: Commonwealth Avenue turning onto State Circle in a clockwise direction to Adelaide Avenue; and
    • Alignment Option 2: National Triangle - Barton: Commonwealth Avenue Commonwealth Avenue along King George Terrace, Macquarie Street, Bligh Street, National Circuit, and Sydney Avenue, before connecting with State Circle to Adelaide Avenue.
    Note: Only one of the two alignment options would be constructed. The revised EIS will describe only one alignment option and will identify the potential environmental impacts of that option.
  • Light rail track and stops, including new light rail bridges on Commonwealth Avenue over Lake Burley Griffin and on Adelaide Avenue;
  • Road network changes to accommodate the Project, including modifications to existing road carriageways and intersections, removal of the Melrose Drive bridge over Yarralumla Creek, new intersection arrangements, changes to line markings and traffic signal phasing;
  • Landscaping and public domain features along and around the Project alignment, as presented in the Public Domain Master Plan;
  • Ancillary infrastructure such as drainage and stormwater management infrastructure, power and water supply, lighting and telecommunications, traction power substations (TPSs), and utility adjustments;
  • Active travel (walking, cycling and micromobility) infrastructure to connect the community to the stops; and
  • Upgrades to the existing Mitchell Depot site to accommodate additional light rail vehicles (LRVs) staff and storage.

The Project would comprise linear infrastructure primarily within the road reserves from Commonwealth Park to Woden, with potential impacts to adjoining blocks.

This Application (EIS202400003) relates to parts of the Project that are located on Territory land identified in the Territory Plan 2023. Parts of the Project within Designated Areas under the National Capital Plan or on National Land will be considered separately by the Australian Government.

Status

A Scoping Document was issued on 4 March 2024 by the territory planning authority (the authority) for EIS202400003, which outlines the matters to be addressed in the EIS.

A draft EIS has now been lodged for EIS202400003. The draft EIS is open for public comment from 7 July 2025 until 5 September 2025.

EIS process

An EIS details the anticipated environmental impacts of a development, as well as proposing avoidance, mitigation and offset measures. The proponent prepares an EIS to enable decision makers to understand the environmental consequences of a proposed development. The EIS is required to address matters raised in the Scoping Document [PDF 1.5 MB] for the proposal.

Find out more about the EIS process.

Commonwealth requirements

The Australian Government determined that the Project is a controlled action requiring assessment and approval by EIS under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) before it can proceed. Read more information about the EPBC Act EIS process for the Project (EPBC 2023/09753).

Public consultation

The public consultation period for the draft EIS is 45 working days, commencing on 7 July 2025 and closing on 5 September 2025. Within this period, the public can view the application and provide written comments (a representation) on the proposal.

Any matters raised in representations made during the public consultation period must be addressed by the proponent in revising their EIS for final assessment by the authority. Representations received after public consultation closes may be supplied to the proponent for their information if they wish to consider them.

Representations should be addressed to the Chief Planner and be made in one of the following ways:

  • Electronically using the Public Submission Smartform;
  • Emailed to ACEPDcustomerservices@act.gov.au;
  • Mailed to Land, Planning and Building Services Shopfront, GPO Box 158, Canberra City 2601; or
  • Hand delivered to: Access Canberra Land, Planning and Building Services Shopfront at 8 Darling Street, Mitchell ACT 2911

Representations should include the name and contact details of the person making the comments and the draft EIS application reference number (EIS202400003).

Publication of representations

Under section 116(2) of the Planning Act 2023, the authority must:

  1. make a copy of the representation available on the authority website
  2. give a copy of the representation to the proponent of the development proposal as soon as practicable after the public consultation period for the draft EIS ends.

In complying with the obligation under section 116(2), the authority discloses the representations, which may include personal information on its website and to the proponent. You may request to have part or all of your representation excluded from the public register under Sections 502 or 503 of the Planning Act 2023. The request for exclusion must be in writing and clearly identify what you are seeking to exclude and how the request satisfies the exclusion criteria. The authority may approve or refuse to approve an exclusion application.

If your request for exclusion is approved the authority will seek to protect the information from disclosure. However, the authority cannot guarantee that the information will not have to be disclosed pursuant to a legal obligation.

The Information Privacy Policy on the authority website contains information about how you may access or seek to correct your personal information held by EPSDD, and how you may complain about an alleged breach of the Territory Privacy Principles.

Disclaimer: As detailed above, section 116 of the Planning Act 2023 requires the authority to publish representations. The authority is not able to verify the truth of any facts alleged in any representation and publication of a representation does not indicate acceptance of the opinions expressed by the author of any representation.

Application and supporting documents