Last month, the ACT Government silently released their latest update on setting an “urban growth boundary” for our city.
The Government is required to release these half-yearly updates on its commitment to set an urban growth boundary for the ACT in response to a resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly last year.
Dr Simon Copland, Executive Director of the Conservation Council ACT Region says:
“We’re incredibly disappointed that there was not even a simple email notification to key stakeholders like our organisation about this update on the future of our Bush Capital. But ultimately we’re not surprised the ACT Government wants this update to go unnoticed, because there’s nothing of substance inside.”
The update states that in the 6 months between January to July 2026, the ACT Government has:
- Continued work on a new integrated Planning and Transport Strategy.
- Continued research and policy analysis to support consideration of an urban growth boundary.
- Conducted ongoing investigations of the Western Edge and Eastern Broadacre areas to inform future planning decisions.
- Recruited the ACT Government Landscape Architect.
Dr Copland says: “Aside from finally hiring the ACT Government Landscape Architect – which was an election promise that’s taken the ACT Government almost two years to complete – they have spent the last 6 months creating plans of plans and continuing their six year long streak of investigations into the Western Edge.”
The ACT Government is meant to release an amendment to the Territory Plan in June of next year to draw an urban growth boundary for our city and there is yet to be any community consultation on the matter.
Dr Copland continues: “Canberrans are tired of infinite plans and investigations. We think it’s about time the community gets included and heard on this matter too. Because we know the value of living in the beautiful and well-planned Bush Capital of the world and we want the Government to ensure this is protected for future generations to come.
That’s why the community is calling on the ACT Government to actually follow through on their promise to set an urban growth boundary for the ACT, and to draw that line in a way which protects our beautiful Western Edge – 9,800 hectares of critically endangered ecosystems, Indigenous cultural sites, productive farms and a place of recreation and relaxtion for many Canberrans to the west of Canberra.
We already have 2,300 signatures on the Save our Western Edge campaign petition and we’re now inviting Canberrans to line up for their city limits at Canberra’s Biggest Nutbush on Saturday the 19th of September.”
Media contact: Dr Simon Copland, 0423 390 887, director@conservationcouncil.org.au