An element of the ACT's planning system is district strategies.
There are nine districts across Canberra. Each strategy captures the special character of its corresponding district.
These documents will help guide how Canberra will change and grow towards 2038 and beyond to 2050. This growth will be in a way that keeps the territory sustainable, competitive and liveable.
Canberra's population is growing quickly. Without strategic planning, the things that make Canberra a great place to live will diminish.
The district strategies look at how we manage growth in a way that is sustainable. This way, Canberrans can continue to have access to services, transport, employment, health, education and nature.
No more than 30% of growth will be in new suburbs, often referred to as greenfield land. The district strategies outline how we will keep the remaining 70% (or above) within the existing suburbs through increased density.
Change will happen gradually, carefully and in consultation with community and local industry.
The district strategies show areas that could be suitable for change. More comprehensive investigations will be needed over time for each of these areas.
District Strategies
Download and read the District Strategies:
- Belconnen [67.5 MB]
- East Canberra [35.1 MB]
- Gungahlin [65.0 MB]
- Inner North and City [40.9 MB]
- Inner South [44.4 MB]
- Molonglo Valley [29.9 MB]
- Tuggeranong [43.6 MB]
- Weston Creek [4.8 MB]
- Woden [63.4 MB]
The district strategies are supported by 4 additional volumes:
- Volume 1: Metropolitan Context and Big Drivers [36.8 MB]
- Volume 3: Indicative Implementation Plan [13.1 MB]
- Volume 4 Background Material [98.1 MB]
- Volume 5: Glossary of Terms [326.1 KB]
Higher resolutions maps from the district strategies are available on request. To request a copy for your district, please email EPSDDComms@act.gov.au.
Processes to update a District Strategy
The first version of the nine District Strategies 2023 were based on the information and data available at the time of preparation, including the latest Census data from 2021. They included and addressed what community and stakeholder groups told us across a number of years through consultations and workshops.
The District Strategies are 'living documents'. They can be updated over time to reflect new ideas, projects, strategies or policies adopted by the government. They will also be updated to include future Census data, population and employment projections.
The District Strategies are intended to evolve over time with the changing nature of the city. Therefore, the Planning Act 2023 allows the District Strategies to be reviewed and amended.
Review of District Strategies
Every five years the Chief Planning Executive of the Territory Planning Authority must consider whether a district strategy still reflects the long-term planning policy and goals for the ACT. If not, a district strategy may be reviewed. If the Chief Planning Executive decides to undertake a review of a district strategy, this decision will be publicly notified.
Amendment to a District Strategy
In addition to the review process, the Territory Planning Authority and other specified government agencies may amend part or all of a district strategy if and when required.
The amendment process involves preparing a planning and response report and carrying out public consultation.
An amendment to a district strategy is approved by the Minister if:
- satisfied the amendment is consistent with the ACT Planning Strategy and
- there has been sufficient public consultation undertaken.
The process to amend a district strategy is shown in the following figure.
At this stage there have been no amendments made to the District Strategies. Amendments to the District Strategies will be published here as they occur.
Frequently asked questions
The district strategies provide a plan towards 2038 and beyond to 2050 to manage growth and change at the district level. They set out how to achieve the vision of the ACT Planning Strategy 2018. This vision is for Canberra to be a sustainable, competitive and equitable city.
The ACT Planning Strategy looks at planning across the entire city. These new district strategies provide a new and more local look at strategic planning and guidance.
The district strategies sit below the Planning Strategy. The strategies identify how, where and what growth might occur in each of the 9 districts. They also identify what is required to support this change.
No. These are strategic documents that will look at how Canberra can best grow over the coming decades. They do not have a role in the assessment of development applications.
The district strategies link city-wide planning, policies and legislation to the local outcomes in the Territory Plan.
The key functions of the district strategies are connected to the objectives of the Territory Plan. They are to:
- set future directions for each of Canberra's districts.
- provide a guide for implementing the ACT Planning Strategy at a district level. This includes guidance on possible areas of growth based on how close it is to services, jobs, and transport. This then informs the district policies that sit in the new Territory Plan
- inform future plans of physical and community infrastructure, major developments and rezoning proposals
- inform detailed precinct and site planning.
- help coordinate infrastructure, transport, planning, climate change and living infrastructure strategies and delivery of initiatives at a district level.
Proposals for Territory Plan amendments will need demonstrate consistency with the relevant district strategy. This is especially the case for the five drivers and associated initiatives.
The 9 district strategies capture most of Canberra's current population.
Other districts may be considered in the future. This will depend on more investigations and consideration at how other areas of the ACT can accommodate future development.
Future growth and change outside of new areas is focused on already nominated development areas in the districts of Molonglo Valley, Belconnen and Gungahlin.
The rural areas of the ACT provide opportunities for continued agricultural uses and food production.
The district strategies contain an objective to:
“support a more sustainable city by encouraging local food production including community gardens.”
The East Canberra District Strategy in particular considers the benefits rural areas provide. This includes food production and the economic benefits from related industries like farm-based tourism.
