Urban Planning
In the ACT we are privileged to enjoy a rich natural landscape and vibrant city simultaneously. However, we are challenged by the increasing pressures of a growing population, and the associated demands for housing and services.
Canberra is Australia’s second least dense city. As we respond to increased population pressure, strengthening our commitment to urban infill will reduce pressure on natural ecosystems.
High quality urban development must be accompanied by a commitment to diversifying medium density housing options to provide better choices for the community.
Urban greenspace will help to build resilience against the impacts of climate change, enhance connectivity across the urban landscape, and deliver quality-of-life benefits to the community. Green space, trees and shrubs provide vital refuge for wildlife and pollinators across the urban landscape, cool the urban environment, and slow urban water flows.
Latest news
Concerns over Molonglo Valley development
The Conservation Council has engaged actively in the planning processes concerning the urban development of the Molonglo Valley (viz East Molonglo and Central Molonglo) over a number of years. However, we are increasingly dismayed and alarmed over the lack of proper balance between conservation and development, in what appears to be ad hoc planning processes rather than an overall, […]
16 storey hotel proposal for Garema Place needs change
The Conservation Council has called on the Government not to approve a development proposal for a sixteen storey hotel comprising of a commercial hotel development containing 233 hotel suites on Garema Place in the city centre, because it does not adequately demonstrate effective integration of social, economic and environmental considerations. The Conservation Council supports higher […]
Solar rebates for low income homes welcomed
Media release from ACT Energy Consumer Policy Consortium: ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), Care Financial Counselling Service, Conservation Council ACT Region, SEE-Change, and Small Business Taskforce of the Canberra Business Chamber – 19 December 2017. A consortium of business, conservation and community groups has welcomed the launch of a new program to assist low income […]
Election transport policies from the incumbents
Light rail has been successful in lifting the profile of transport, even public transport, in the 2016 ACT election campaign. In terms of the Conservation Council’s policies light rail gets a tick because it can assist development of a more compact city and it is another step to reduce the expansion of the city. At the […]
Riverview: Mechanisms and principles to protect environment and heritage values
The Riverview urban development proposal is a complex large project straddling the boundary of the ACT and NSW. The Conservation Council has been involved in various informal and formal processes over some years. We have always considered it important that any urban development here be carefully considered due to the proximity of significant woodlands, the […]
Transport – connecting people and places
The Conservation Council has developed election policies in the lead-up to the 15 October 2016 ACT Legislative Assembly election in order to set out some environmental issues for the candidates to consider as they campaign and set out their own policies. Here is our policy: Transport – connecting people and places. Context Transport is an essential […]