The ACT Government has announced two housing developments: 1,000 homes in Denman Prospect and 43 townhouses in North Wright. But the ACT Government’s use of call-in powers for the former project has angered both the opposition and ACT Labor’s own partners in government.

Denman Prospect

The next stage of Denman Prospect, ‘Stromlo Reach’, will provide around 1,000 new homes, Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Planning, announced.

Stromlo Reach includes 295 new single dwelling residential blocks and 15 multi-unit sites to accommodate approximately 839 dwellings. Around 20 per cent of the new dwellings will be affordable housing. 

The proposal also includes 14 open space blocks for community recreation, community facilities, transport services, and a site for a school.

Mr Steel said the new residential estate would provide more housing supply for Molonglo Valley’s population, which is expected to have more than 70,000 people by 2050.

The developer must meet certain conditions to protect the environment and wildlife, concerning the pink-tailed worm-lizard, burrowing animals such as wombats, creek and water connectivity, and replacing trees. Mr Steel believes the approval “strikes [the] right balance between providing homes for our growing population, whilst considering our natural environment and local heritage”.

Mr Steel said he had taken steps to protect nearby Bluetts Block (402 and 403 Stromlo, remainder of Denman Prospect Section 1 Block 12) from future development.

He has also sought advice on incorporating Coombs Peninsula into the Molonglo River Nature Reserve, or as a public open space.

The development application at Stromlo Reach was publicly notified between 19 July and 9 August 2023, with further notification from 20 September till 19 October 2023. It received a total of 12 representations from the community.

ACT Greens criticise use of call-in powers

Mr Steel used call-in powers under the Planning and Development Act 2007 to make his decision – allegedly, the ACT Greens maintain, after a private developer requested his predecessor, Mick Gentleman, to “override normal planning process”.

“If you needed any more evidence that Labor is in bed with developers, this announcement should suffice,” the party’s planning spokesperson, Jo Clay MLA, said.

Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for the Environment, called Mr Steel’s decision “appalling”. She posted the following image on Facebook:

The Greens oppose the use of call-in powers, which they argue “ignore community input and bypass proper scrutiny and process”.

Ms Clay argued that the call-in would not deliver any new homes for at least three years. “The rezoning that the Greens asked for in August 2023 would deliver more homes sooner than this environmentally destructive greenfield sprawl.”

Ms Vassarotti said that Mr Steel had not consulted her on the matter.

The site is next to Bluetts Block, which the Conservation Council believes should become a nature reserve, as several threatened species live there. Ms Vassarotti had raised her concerns about the location with Mr Steel. Development on the western edge of Canberra could also be at risk from bushfire.

“Development that damages or risks our environment is unacceptable,” Ms Vassarotti said. “What remains of our natural environment needs to be protected at all costs. The minute we give in to environmental destruction, is the minute we lose the battle against climate change and species extinction.”

Chris Steel’s response

Mr Steel said he acknowledged that the Greens were conflicted by this decision.

“Their opposition to call-in powers are well documented, and a revised process has been introduced under the new planning system.

“However, all parties in the Assembly agree that there is an urgent need for more housing not just in the ACT but across the nation. The ACT Government has signed up to commitments at the National Cabinet level to increase housing by the tens of thousands over the coming years through the National Housing Reform Blueprint. The Blueprint includes streamlining approval pathways, including strengthened ‘call in powers’, and prioritising planning amendments to support diverse housing across a range of areas e.g. addressing barriers to subdivision for appropriate medium density housing.

“ACT Labor is committed to increasing housing supply and providing more housing options for more Canberrans. This decision will enable more housing and more affordable housing to be built as soon as possible.

“The Government has a policy to release land through a 70/30 split of greenfield and infill developments. The ACT Greens will have to be clearer with the community on what their proposal for a city limit means, if they do not even support estates being built in areas long identified for residential development and for community and recreation facilities.

“They need to explain how the ACT could ever achieve our commitments to build more housing, and more affordable housing, without some level of greenfield development over the coming decades.

“In this instance, a range of required environmental assessments have been undertaken to inform this decision. I am, however, aware of the environmental values of other blocks nearby in the Molonglo Valley, and I am seeking advice to protect those blocks from further development.”

Canberra Liberals

Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain, Shadow Minister for Planning, criticised Mr Steel’s use of the soon-to-be scrapped Ministerial call-in powers, as an indication that the new planning system was not up to scratch.

Last year’s Planning Bill adapted the ministerial call-in power for development applications into a power to declare proposals as Territory Priority Projects.

Mr Cain said the use of Ministerial call-in powers, which will be dropped in the new planning system, was disappointing, and highlighted the ACT Government’s lack of transparency and consultation with the community.

“This is a clear sign that the Planning Minister has no faith in the new planning system to properly assess and approve major developments such as Stromlo Reach,” Mr Cain said.

“While I am glad that the Minister and Labor-Greens government finally recognise that Canberra desperately needs more housing, it appears the new Minister has simply picked up where his predecessor [Mick Gentleman] left off.

“If the Planning Minister was serious about addressing the housing supply shortage, he would amend the government’s unambitious copy of the Canberra Liberals’ dual occupancies policy and release more land for multi-unit and detached housing.

“The Canberra Liberals have continually called on the Labor-Greens government to release more land for housing, which has been blocked at every turn.

“By squeezing in one last use of these call-in powers, the Planning Minister shows he has no regard for transparency and no regard for due process.”

“The Liberals are showing that they not only oppose new housing and community recreation facilities in Molonglo, but have no idea when it comes to planning,” Mr Steel replied.

“The application was being assessed under the old planning system because it was lodged in July 2023, and could not have been assessed under the new system.”

North Wright

The North Wright sustainable house precinct will comprise 43 climate-wise, net zero townhouses on compact blocks sized 200m² to 250m², housing minister Yvette Berry announced. Each dwelling will have an energy efficiency of seven to 8.6 stars.

Twenty-three homes will be sold as an entry-level sustainable house and land package.

Design for the 20 townhouses in Stage Two will start soon. These townhouses will demonstrate Passive House design standards, prefabrication, and a minimum of Eight Star energy efficiency, Ms Berry said.

The precinct will feature greened laneways, plenty of public seating, and facilities for outdoor play, so the community can bond through sharing public spaces.