Greater Canberra

@greatercanberra.org.au

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A more liveable, sustainable, and affordable Canberra for everyone. Join us ➡️ https://greatercanberra.org/join Authorised by Howard Maclean for Greater Canberra Inc.

Planning (Missing Middle Housing Reform) Major Plan Amendment 2026 approval notice
AHNA Brick Book front cover
We welcome this weekend’s Federal Budget announcement of a $2 billion local infrastructure fund to unlock more homes across the country. As one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities over the last couple of decades, Canberra must get its fair share of this huge federal investment. As a member organisation of the Abundant Housing Network Australia, we called for the establishment of a federal infrastructure fund in AHNA’s 2025 election policy statement, the Brick Book. The Commonwealth has made clear that this funding is tied to upzoning in well-located areas and fixing planning system bottlenecks. States and territories are on notice that they won’t get funding for infrastructure if they’re not allowing homes in the places that already have the infrastructure and create the highest social returns on investment.
Inquiry into DPA-04 Missing Middle Housing Reforms
YIMBY Melbourne and Greater Canberra present Order without Design with Alain Bertaud and Howard Maclean, 6:30pm March 5, Verity Lane Market
Canberra Times letter from Darcy Murphy, Harrison, on 3 November 2025, arguing that Missing Middle reforms enable housing to be built in a way that protects the bush character of the capital through building in areas already occupied rather than further sprawl, there has been extensive consultation, and that these reforms will help restore Canberra's affordability.
Screenshot of letter to the editor in the Sunday Canberra Times, 25 May 2025, "Give more of us the option of enjoying lovely Kingston", by Adam Tadmore, in response to an article about the reaction of the Kingston and Barton Residents Group to discussion of the future potential for shop-top housing in the Kingston Shops area
Missing Middle Reform - Have your say!
The Great Housing Debate - register at davidpocock.com.au
Photo of old Canberra bus stop with text overlaid, 'Urbanist book club, Saturday 16 November, 6pm at King O'Malleys, Civic'.
Title: Greens policy builds on Missing Middle momentum Text: Yesterday's release of the ACT Greens' 2024 election planning policy represents another important step towards legalising missing middle housing across Canberra. Last year, Greater Canberra was proud to stand with 15 partner organisations to endorse the Missing Middle Canberra platform, calling for more homes in the places people want to live. The Greens policy endorses key elements of this platform, including: • Enabling townhouses and low-rise apartments on the 80% of residential land currently zoned RZ1, by upzoning it to the RZ2 standard • Upzoning land near to local shops, public transport routes, and the future Light Rail Stage 2B corridor to allow for more high-quality apartments and mixed-use housing development • Reforming costly parking mandates, to create more housing choices for the growing number of Canberra households with only one car, or no cars, especially near public transport.
North Curtin Write-in Session Thursday 6 June, 8pm, online via Discord Join our online write-in session and show your support for 1300 well-located homes in the proposed North Curtin residential area.
Planning statement charts course for more homes and lower emissions In February 2023, Greater Canberra joined with over a dozen other community organisations in the Missing Middle Canberra coalition to call upon the ACT Government to change our planning laws to legalise medium density housing - townhouses, terraces, low rise apartment blocks - throughout our city. We also called upon the ACT Government to allow for more housing in and around each suburb's local shops. Today's statement of planning priorities is a large and important step to delivering this abundant housing future for all Canberrans. The development of a missing middle design guide is a commitment to real reform to Canberra's suburbs that will deliver homes where people want to live. This reform could deliver tens of thousands of medium density homes over the coming decades - homes for downsizers and new families, homes that reduce urban sprawl, emissions and will drive down housing costs and rents.
We are excited to see the Government progressing with delivering well-located homes in North Curtin. This new residential precinct is an opportunity for more Canberrans to live near high-quality amenities and have access to excellent public transport. The Government must be ambitious with maximising the housing potential of this site, and the whole Light Rail Stage 2 route, to benefit as many Canberrans as possible, and reduce the ACT's transport emissions. The proposed 1,300 new homes will help to address our ongoing housing shortage, but they are worth only 3 months worth of Canberra's usual housing supply. The Government still needs to allow more housing around the Light Rail corridor through the Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework, and they need to deliver the Missing Middle reforms that are critical to revitalising local centres across the rest of Canberra.
Photo of Canberra times letter to the editor: Life is local As someone who lives around the corner from my local shops, it's great to see interest in allowing more Canberrans to share in the benefits ("Shops to be housing hubs", January 22, p1). From wandering down for a family dinner at the pub, to morning coffees with friends, to rushing down to the pharmacy to pick up a much-needed prescription; there's a certain freedom that comes with having food, community, and amenities just a short walk away. I'm also aware of how fortunate I am to be able to live where I do - in an apartment complex that couldn't be built if it weren't for the more generous zoning rules that apply near to our local shops. For me, allowing more homes like this for Canberrans seems like a no-brainer. Shouldn't everyone have easy access to the simple joys of their local shops? Matthew Bowes, O'Connor
Submission on National Capital Plan Draft Amendment 97 Greater Canberra blog post Our submission on the National Capital Authority's proposed amendment to enable the former Australia Forestry School site in Yarralumla to be developed into a mixed-use housing precinct.