Forty community members filled the Legislative Assembly Chamber during Question Time today to hear questions asked of the Planning Minister as to whether he will keep Canberra’s Western Edge outside of the to-be-set urban growth boundary for the ACT.
We had questions asked on our behalf by Greens MLAs as well as Independent MLA Thomas Emerson and Liberal MLA Elizabeth Lee, demonstrating the broad political support for saving our Western Edge from suburban sprawl development.
Read on for the specific questions asked on our community campaign’s behalf, the responses from the Planning Minister and our thoughts on these responses.
Thomas Emerson MLA’s question: My question is also the minister for planning. The Western Edge Investigation area covers almost 10,000 hectares of unique country west of Canberra, an ecological sanctuary home to beautiful rivers, ecologically sensitive ecosystems, and many threatened plants and animals. It’s also of significant cultural importance to Ngunnawal people. 
Last year’s resolution requiring the ACT government to establish an urban growth boundary has led to a community campaign calling the government to protect the Western Edge from development, by keeping it outside this urban growth boundary. Almost 3,000 Canberrans have signed the save our Western edge petition, some of whom join us in the gallery today. Noting our love for nature here in the bush capital, the extensive community interest in this issue, and the government’s own self-stated commitment to nature conservation in the ACT. 
Is the government on track to release an amendment to the territory plan, to establish an urban growth boundary by June 2027 as agreed in last April’s assembly resolution?Â
Minister Steel’s response: Yes, we are on track to meet the resolution and we will be releasing both a draft planning & transport strategy in June next year as well as a draft amendment to the territory plan, enabling the open growth boundary. But importantly, what we’re also doing is that we are continuing the reforms that our government brought to the election as an alternative to urban sprawl, which is to support more housing within the existing urban footprint of Canberra through the missing middle housing reforms which have already gone through the assembly, but also through transit oriented development and shop adjacent development. Though it’s one thing to rule out future urban development on the fringes of Canberra. But we also need to make sure that we’re enabling more housing for our growing population and we want to see that happen in more areas within our existing urban footprint and we’re doing that work at the moment. 
I really appreciate the support of the Western Edge campaigners for those significant reforms to enable more housing close to rapid transport connections, close to shops, amenities, jobs, and services, because we need to make sure that as our city grows, we are growing in a compact and sustainable way, creating more walkable neighbourhoods that allow us to continue to have the high quality of life that we have and protect our environment around Canberra as well. And within Canberra through our nature conservation network and network of nature reserves. So that work is happening at the moment and there will be multiple touch points for consultation as we bring forward further changes on transport oriented development. 
We have already been out there on the northern gateway changes. We have already been out there with the changes proposed in the Thoroughbred Park precinct as well.
The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts: We are pleased to hear that the government is on track to set the Urban Growth Boundary for the ACT by June of next year, as their previous updates did not fill us with confidence that this was the case.
We are indeed pleased with and supportive of the government’s missing middle reforms passed earlier this term as an alternative to bad suburban sprawl planning.
Thomas Emerson MLA’s question: Why hasn’t the government already committed to excluding the Western Edge given the Community support for doing so, noting the Canberra liberals, ACT greens, and many independents committed at the 2024 election to protect the Western edge from development?Â
Minister Steel’s response: As I noted, in the answer to the previous question this area is a non-urban zone.
So suburban new estates cannot be built in these areas, as it stands, what we’re talking about here is an extended level of protection to areas particularly of high conservation, value, and that is a conversation that we need to have with the rural leaseholders in that area. We need to present them with the evidence, showing that there are high ecological values in parts of that area that might warrant extending protections to those areas. So a higher level of protection than what is currently there. 
So we need to have that evidence based, developed through the studies that are underway. But of course, the studies are not just limited to the Western edge. There are studies that have been occurring right across the ACT and the urban growth boundary will be looking at applying across a wider part of the ACT than just the Western edge. 
So the default is there’s no development allowed. And what we’re looking at is how we can extend protections to areas within the Western edge, as well as other parts of Canberra, and we’re doing that work, to be able to then consult with the community, to hear their views based on that evidence and what that level of protection looks like through the creation of an urban growth boundary. And I’m looking forward to presenting that in line with the Assembly Resolution in the middle of next year.

The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts:Â We are pleased to hear the Minister speak in such explicit terms about the Western Edge being a “non-urban zone” and stating that “new estates cannot be built in these areas” and that we’re instead talking about “extending protection” to the Western Edge. This is a positive departure from how the government has previously discussed the western edge as an “investigation area” for future greenfield development.
Elizabeth Lee MLA’s question: Minister, when will the community members, who are passionate about this issue, like those who are present in the gallery today, be consulted on setting an urban growth boundary? 
What’s the time frame?Â
Minister Steel’s response: Well, I refer the Member to the answers I’ve already provided.
I’ve been very clear that we said June for the urban growth boundary with the draft changes to the planning and transport strategy and a draft major plan amendment. I mean, of course, there’s a statutory process that needs to be undertaken there and the assembly committee may wish to inquire that will be the decision that they will need to make in relation to the territory plan amendment. I don’t have direct control over that. 
They will need to consider those changes, but the default is that no new suburbs can be built in these areas. So they already have a level of protection. What we are talking about here is potentially expanding that based on the studies that are underway and we will present through those studies being completed the information in the community needs to have an informed decision. Both those who are supporters of further protections in the Western Edge and the existing rural landholders in this area who will no doubt also want to have a say as part of the consultation as well.
The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts: We are pleased to hear that the government is on track to set the Urban Growth Boundary for the ACT by June of next year but for genuine community consultation to happen on this matter that will therefore need to occur well before June of next year. We would have appreciated more clarity from the Minister on a specific community consultation timeline.
Jo Clay MLA’s question: Minister thank you for publishing your statement of progress on considering an urban growth boundary, which was provided in response to my 2025 parliamentary calls, to set city limits and protect the Western edge. The update says government in the first half of this year has been doing investigations of the Western Edge area. 
The report shows 37 investigations and studies have already been completed. What further studies does the government need to complete before it can simply decide to protect the Western Age?
Minister Steel’s response: 
Ecological studies, including assessments of threatened flora and fauna, woodland birds, grasslands species, hollow bearing trees, and broader ecological values, cultural heritage assessment, detailed land attribute study including a topographical survey, a tree survey and assessment. I want to reiterate that no decisions have been made about the Western Edge, and the reason for that is because we need to undertake those studies, to gather the evidence, to be able to make informed decisions and consult with the community about further extending protections on the Western Edge. 
The current status of the Western Edge is that it is a non-urban area. And what that means is that it already has a level of protection under the territory plan from new suburbs being built in that area. So what we’re talking about here is extending protections, particularly to areas of high conservation or environmental value. 
And what that might mean is quite significant changes for rural land holders. And we need to show the evidence that we are gathering through these studies to be able to work with them, make decisions about further protections in that area. And I fully expect that there will be significant extra protections in the Western Edge as a result of the work that is underway, and that we will be consulting on around the middle of next year as part of an updated planning and transport strategy, as well as a draft territory plan amendment which would be put to the community for their views next year. We’re looking forward to that, and that will be informed by the rigorous evidence base it has been developed at the moment, and of course, will inform the setting of an urban growth boundary for the ACT, which we believe will cover a significant part, if not full, area of the Western Edge.
The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts:Â We presume the Minister meant that he believes the urban growth boundary for the ACT will “exclude” rather than “cover” a “significant part, if not full, area of the Western Edge”, in which case we are pleased to hear so.Â
Jo Clay MLA’s question: Minister noting the Reports, commitment to consultation with traditional custodians, and aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples, when will this consultation take place for land decisions about the Western Edge & city Limits?
Minister Steel’s response: So in relation to the planning and transport strategy I’ve already asked the city and environment directorate to brief me on how they want to undertake that consultation with First Nations peoples. And, of course, we’ll be consulting with the border community as well. And that will include any changes to the territory plan to enact the urban growth boundary for ACT, which is not just focused on the Western Edge, but other areas in Canberra as well. 

The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts: The government stated that they had begun initial planning for consultation with First Nations on this matter in their February progress update. Why doesn’t the Minister know when this consultation will take place if planning for it began last year? More to the point: why hasn’t this consultation already taken place if planning for it began last year? Is the government really taking one year to plan – not even begin – it’s consultation with First Nations peoples on where to set an urban growth boundary for the ACT when it only had two years in total to come to a decision on this? We think consultation with First Nations peoples on this matter needs to be an urgent priority for the government alongside consultation with the broader community.
Rebecca Vassarotti MLA’s question: Which First Nations people and organisations will the ACT government consult with before key land decisions are made?.Â
Minister Steel’s response: that’s exactly the advice that I have sought from the city and environment directorate.
The Conservation Council ACT Region’s thoughts:Â see previous notes.