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Major Plan Amendments or Major Amendments are one way the Territory Plan can be changed. Major Amendments must follow the process set out in part 5.2 of the Planning Act 2023. Find out more about the amendment process.

Below are all current and completed Major Amendments made under the Planning Act 2023.

How to make a written comment on a major plan amendment

The Territory Planning Authority (the Authority) invites written comment from the public on draft major plan amendments that are open for consultation. Draft major plan amendments that are open for consultation are listed on this page under the ‘major amendments open for consultation’ heading.

Consultation period

A major plan amendment is open for comment for a set duration, called the consultation period, usually 30-working days. The consultation period end date for each draft plan amendment is available by clicking the ‘+’ button on the relevant draft major plan amendment heading below.

Written comments that are not received by the Authority before the consultation period ends might not be considered.

Written comment requirements

The Authority encourages you, prior to commenting, to familiarise yourself with the relevant draft major plan amendment document and background documents. These can be found on this webpage as described above.

Comments can be made via our Smartform that provides step by step guidance on required information for submissions.

Written comments need to include your name and reference to the relevant draft major plan amendment you are commenting on. The Authority may contact you in relation to your comments to request further information. If you wish to be contacted, you will also need to include at least one method of contact.

Submission of written comments

You can provide written comments through any of the following methods:

  • Online: Submit via SmartForm
  • Email: terrplan@act.gov.au
  • Post:
    GPO Box 158
    Canberra ACT 2601
  • In Person:
    Access Canberra Building Services Shopfront
    8 Darling Street, Mitchell ACT 2911

Where comments are mailed or hand delivered to the addresses above, envelope and documents should be attention to:

Territory Plan and Coordination Section, CED (480 NBA)
Access Canberra Building Services Shopfront

Public release of written comments

Written comments received on this major plan amendment will be published on the Authority’s website for at least 30 working days, starting no later than 10 working days after the consultation period for the amendment finishes.

Your personal information will be managed in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2014 and the EPSDD Information Privacy Policy. Unless requested otherwise:

  • names and contact details of individuals making written submissions will not be published
  • contact information of business or community, industry, political and interest groups making written submission will be published.

You may request part of your submission to be excluded from public release under part 14.2 of the Planning Act.

Interim effect

When a draft major plan amendment has interim effect, its proposed provisions apply to current and future development applications alongside the current provisions of the Territory Plan. Where a provision of the draft major plan amendment that has interim effect and a provision of the current Territory Plan are inconsistent with each other, the more onerous of the two provisions apply. This is because the Planning Act 2023 requires the Territory Planning Authority to not do or approve anything that is inconsistent with the provisions of the draft major plan amendment that has interim effect or the provisions of the current Territory Plan.

Example: a draft major plan amendment with interim effect proposes to increase the maximum building height of a site to 12.5 metres.

Assuming the current Territory Plan states the maximum building height for the site is 9.5 metres, the provisions of the draft major plan amendment and the current provisions of the Territory Plan are inconsistent with each other. Therefore, to be consistent with the provisions of both the draft major plan amendment and the current Territory Plan, a development application may only propose a building to a maximum height of 9.5 metres.

Alternatively, assuming there is no maximum building height provisions for the site in the current Territory Plan, the provisions of the draft major plan amendment would not conflict with the current Territory Plan. Therefore, a development application could be lodged that proposes a building up to a maximum height of 12.5 metres.

If a draft major plan amendment is not given interim effect or the period of interim effect has ended, the proposed provisions of the draft major plan amendment do not apply to current and future development applications. Therefore, only the existing provisions of the current Territory Plan would apply to current and future development applications.

Interim effect can be given to the whole or part of a draft major plan amendment and may begin when the draft major plan amendment is:

  • released for public comment
  • referred to the minister for determination.

The relevant draft major plan amendment document and website information will specify if the draft major plan amendment has interim effect or not.

Major amendments open for consultation

The following major amendments are open for comment from the public. How to make a submission and the consultation period can be found in the relevant major amendment document below.

Draft Plan Amendment 06 – Inner South Health Centre – Blocks 33 and 39 Section 78 Griffith (DPA-06)

DPA-06 proposes to amend the Territory Plan map by rezoning Block 33 Section 78 Griffith from PRZ1 and PRZ2 Zones to Community Facility Zone and Block 39 Section 78 Griffith from PRZ1 Zone to Community Facility Zone to permit development of a health facility on the site

A Territory Priority Project declaration is also proposed for this development. It is subject to public consultation for the same period as DPA-06.

Further information on the proposed declaration, and the associated process, can be found on the Territory Priority Project page.

The Territory Planning Authority is providing notice that DPA-06 is open for public consultation.

Public consultation period for DPA-06: 7 October 2025 to 19 November 2025.

DPA-06 does not have interim effect.

This webpage contains further information about:

  • what written comments must include
  • how written comments can be submitted
  • the publication of submitted comments on the Authority’s website and how personal information is managed
  • interim effect.

Documents for consultation

Background papers

Draft Plan Amendment 08 – Thoroughbred Park Precinct

Draft Plan Amendment 08 – Thoroughbred Park Precinct guides future residential, commercial and open space development, and will enable the development of medium to high density housing while retaining the existing racecourse.

DPA-08 establishes a Thoroughbred Park Precinct that includes the racecourse site, the Pony Club site, the Canberra Veterinary Hospital site, Kamberra Winery, the land adjacent to Flemington Road, including the Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) park and ride site and the PRZ1 Urban Open Space zoned land adjacent to the Federal Highway.

DPA-08 proposes to amend the Territory Plan for the Thoroughbred Park Precinct as follows:

  • Establishing a “future urban area” overlay over part of the precinct to show where subdivision is likely to occur.
  • Rezoning parts of the site from NUZ1 Broadacre to a mix of CZ3 Services, CZ4 Local Centre, CZ5 Mixed Use, PRZ1 Urban Open Space, PRZ2 Restricted Access Open Space and RZ5 High-Density Residential.
  • Introducing assessment outcomes and requirements to ensure new buildings are safe, well designed and in keeping with the character of the precinct by:
    • limiting building heights to 18m and 24m across the precinct
    • requiring future development to minimise flood impacts from Sullivans Creek
    • establishing building setbacks of 24m from the Federal Highway road reserve
    • requiring active travel through the site along Sullivans Creek
    • considering active travel routes

The Inner North and City District Technical Specifications are proposed to include specifications to provide guidance regarding how assessment outcomes could be achieved.

The Territory Planning Authority is providing notice that DPA-08 is open for public consultation.

Public consultation period for DPA-08: 17 October 2025 to 1 December 2025.

DPA-08 does not have interim effect.

This webpage contains further information about:

  • what written comments must include
  • how written comments can be submitted
  • the publication of submitted comments on the Authority’s website and how personal information is managed interim effect.

Documents for consultation

Background papers

Additional Information

Draft Plan Amendment 09 – Northern Gateway

DPA-09 proposes to amend the Territory Plan map to rezone parts of Watson and Downer from RZ1 to RZ3 and RZ4 to enable additional housing supply in well-located areas.

DPA-09 also proposed amendments to the Inner North and City District Policy to set maximum building heights in the rezoned areas.

The Territory Planning Authority is providing notice that DPA-09 is open for public consultation.

Public consultation period: 22 September 2025 to 4 November 2025.

DPA-09 does not have interim effect.

This webpage contains further information about:

  • what written comments should include
  • how written comments can be submitted
  • the publication of submitted comments on the Authority’s website and how personal information is managed
  • interim effect.

Documents for consultation

Background papers

Major amendments closed for consultation

The following major amendments are closed for comment. The Authority is currently considering these major amendments along with comments received from the public. The Authority will then revise, withdraw or recommend the major amendment to the Minister for Planning.

Draft Plan Amendment 04 – Missing Middle Housing Reform

DPA-04 proposes changes to the Territory Plan that relate to subdivision, consolidation and development in the residential zones (generally in the RZ1 and RZ2) across the Australian Capital Territory. The changes proposed in DPA-04 will remove barriers in the planning system and enable more housing options (including townhouses, terraces and duplexes) to be developed in existing residential areas.

As part of the implementation of the missing middle housing reform, the ACT Government has developed a draft Missing Middle Housing Design Guide which provides design guidance to achieve best practice design for missing middle housing typologies and has informed the proposed changes within DPA-04.

The YourSay website hosts a range of information on how DPA-04 and the Missing Middle Housing Design Guide work together to enable more diverse housing types including an easy explainer snapshot document with a comparison table on the current provisions in the planning system and the proposed planning provisions under DPA-04.

DPA-04 is now closed for consultation.

The public consultation period for DPA-04 commenced on 20 May 2025 and concluded on 22 July 2025. Written submissions were accepted until 5 August 2025. The Authority invited comments through the YourSay Platform.

DPA-04 does not have interim effect.

Please refer to the interim effect section of this webpage for more information.

Documents for consultation

Background papers

Public comments

Draft Plan Amendment 05 – Removing the Future Urban Area (FUA) overlay and setting zoning for a number of sites, including Bluetts Block and Coombs Peninsula

DPA-05 proposes to amend the Territory Plan map to remove a number of sites from the future urban area (FUA) overlay, confirm the applicable land use zoning and undertake some minor adjustments to the Molonglo River reserve boundary.

The subject sites are located at:

  • Block 403 Stromlo and part Block 12 Section 1 Denman Prospect (Bluetts block)
  • Various parts along the edge of Coombs and the Molonglo River Reserve, including Coombs Peninsula
  • Land between Sections 96 and 116 Denman Prospect and the Molonglo River Reserve and some small parts to the north
  • Block 1650 Belconnen, Block 15 Section 39 Whitlam, Blocks 88 and 89 Molonglo Valley (infrastructure sites)
  • Block 6 Section 109 Amaroo (adjoining the proposed tennis centre)
  • Block 1 Section 17 Gungahlin (enclosed oval) and Block 3 Section 19 Gungahlin (urban open space at the western end of the Gungahlin Town Centre) and Block 3 Section 232 Gungahlin, and the nearby parts of Gungahlin Place
  • Block 8 Section 96 Weston Creek.

DPA-05 is now closed for consultation.

The public consultation period for DPA-05 commenced on 30 June 2025 and concluded on 11 August 2025.

DPA-05 does not have interim effect.

Please refer to the interim effect section of this webpage for more information.

Documents that were released for consultation

Public comments

Major amendments recommended to the Minister

The following major amendments have been recommended to the Minister and are:

  • awaiting a decision by the Minister
  • being considered by the relevant Standing Committee.
Draft Plan Amendment 03 – Blocks 2, 7 and 8 Section 74 Holt

DPA-03 proposes to amend the Territory Plan by rezoning Blocks 2, 7 and 8 Section 74 Holt from Residential RZ2 Suburban Core Zone to CFZ Community Facility Zone.

The Authority is providing notice that DPA-03 and relevant documents and background papers have been given to the Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development.

A consultation report, which is attached below, details consultation with:

  • the public
  • the national capital authority
  • the conservator of flora and fauna
  • the environment protection authority
  • the heritage council
  • any custodian of unleased or leased public land affected

DPA-03 does not have interim effect.

This webpage contains further information about interim effect.

Documents given to the Minister

Background documents

Draft Plan Amendment B – Forrest Section 19 Blocks 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12

Revised DPA-B proposes to amend the Territory Plan by rezoning Section 19 Blocks 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12 from Residential RZ1 Suburban and Commercial CZ6 Leisure and Accommodation to Commercial CZ5 Mixed Use Zone.

DPA-B also proposes amendments to the Inner South District Policy to protect amenity, including by limiting some vehicular access, building height and the size and impacts from some commercial uses, and requiring landscaping along Dominion Circuit.

A change is also proposed to the Commercial Zones Policy to permit commercial accommodation use in the CZ5 Mixed Use zone.

The Authority is providing notice that DPA-B and relevant documents and background papers have been given to the Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development.

A consultation report, which is provided below, details consultation with:

  • the public
  • the national capital authority
  • the conservator of flora and fauna
  • the environment protection authority
  • the heritage council
  • any custodian of unleased or leased public land affected

DPA-B does not have interim effect.

This webpage contains further information about interim effect.

Documents given to the Minister

Background documents

Block 9 Section 19 Forrest

Blocks 5, 6 and 11, Section 19 Forrest

Block 12, Section 19 Forrest

  • The supporting report for block 12 is contained in the revised DPA-B document

Major amendments approved by the Minister

The following major amendments have been approved by the Minister but have not commenced and become part of the Territory Plan

Draft Plan Amendment 2 - Ainslie Section 26 Blocks 11, 16, 20, 21 and 22 (DPA-2)

MPA-02 amends the Territory Plan by rezoning part of the subject area from Parks and Recreation PRZ2 Restricted Access to Residential RZ5 High Density and Commercial CZ5 Mixed Use.

MPA-02 also amends the Inner North and City District Policy to include assessment outcomes and assessment requirements relating to residential density, maintaining the commercial hierarchy, vehicular parking, building height and active travel.

MPA-02 propose consequential amendments to the Inner North and City District Technical Specifications to provide guidance on the minimum and maximum number of dwellings across the subject area, building height and vehicular parking.

The Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development has approved MPA-02.

Documents approved by the Minister

Background papers

Completed and withdrawn major amendments

The below major plan amendments are completed, commenced and now part of the Territory Plan or have been withdrawn.

Draft Plan Amendment A East Lake - The Causeway Area (DPA-A)

DPA-A proposed zones and planning provisions to deliver urban intensification and regeneration of The Causeway Area and enable additional housing supply in the inner south. This was to contribute to a compact city by increasing the residential population within the established and well-connected suburb of Kingston by allowing mixed use development.

The amendment was proposed to enable the development of a range of housing typologies, new community facilities and open spaces which will attract a diverse and active community.

The proposed provisions in DPA-A valued the existing community facilities by integrating Cargill's Cottage and the heritage listed Causeway Hall as part of the area and provide a sensitive interface with the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

Status - Withdrawn

After DPA-A was recommended to the Minister for Planning in June 2024, the Minister referred it and the associated documents to the Legislative Assembly standing committee responsible for planning to determine if it will undertake an inquiry.

On 20 June 2024, the Standing Committee advised it will not undertake an inquiry on DPA-A.

Following this, the Minister decided to withdraw DPA-A because it was incorporated as part of the amended Territory Plan which passed through the Legislative Assembly on 28 August 2024. The amended Territory Plan commenced on 27 September 2024.

Withdrawal notice

Available documents

Final East Lake Plan

Draft Plan Amendment C - Watson Section 95 Block 3 (DPA-C)

MPA-C rezones Watson Section 95 Block 3 from CZ6 – Leisure and Accommodation Zone to RZ4 – Medium Density Residential Zone.

The subject site is located at Watson Section 95 Block 3, in Canberra’s Inner North and City District.

Rezoning the site to RZ4 will provide significant housing opportunities in Watson, at a range of low to medium density typologies which are consistent with those in the surrounding North Watson area.

The Approval Notice for MPA-C is NI2025-164.

Status: Completed

Commencement Notice

Commencement date: 30 May 2025

Commencement Notice for MPA-C: CN2025-2

Available documents

Draft Plan Amendment 01 – Fraser Section 64 Block 6 (DPA-01)

MPA-01 rezones part block 6 section 64 Fraser from NUZ3 Hills, Ridges and Buffer to Community Facility to enable the site to be used to expand the Fraser Primary School. It also amends the Belconnen District Policy to prohibit retirement village and supportive housing on the area being rezoned, consistent with the prohibited uses on the existing school site.

The Approval Notice for MPA-01 is NI2025-286.

Status: Completed

Commencement Notice

Commencement date: 23 September 2025

Commencement Notice for MPA-01: CN2025-4

Available documents

Related links