Planning in the ACT is complex because it is administered by both ACT and national governments – more than anywhere else in Australia, local community interests need to be considered within the context of the broader national interest. Integrating across natural assets is also complex because in the past government arrangements have often dealt with each natural asset separately. Sometimes, organising how to respond to the loss of resource sustainability is as great a challenge as knowing what to do.
Land tenure in the ACT is unique since planning is under both ACT and Australian government jurisdiction reflecting the Territory’s position as the national capital.
The National Capital Plan 2008 (Cwlth) sets out land use policies of areas designated to be special to the ACT and for the ACT as a whole. It covers the open spaces of Canberra – Lake Burley Griffin, hills, ridges and open spaces, river corridors and bushlands. This plan also provides an overall planning framework for the Territory.
The Territory Plan 1993 is the ACT Government’s key statutory planning document and provides the policy framework for planning administration. It directs management of land use change and development so that it is consistent with strategic directions set by the ACT Government, Legislative Assembly and the community, but so that it is not inconsistent with the National Capital Plan. The Territory Plan sets out zones and precincts in the ACT with their objectives and development tables. It includes structure and concept plans for development of future urban areas.
The Canberra Plan is a plan for the future of the ACT that addresses spatial, social and economic aspects of the city.
The ACT (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 provides for land within the ACT to be ‘national’ or ‘territory’ land. Section 29 of the Act states that the ACT executive is responsible for managing territory land on behalf of the Australian Government. Land not managed by either government is leased to individual people or organisations. Rural leased land is managed through land management agreements that aim to achieve productive capacity, conservation and protection of the land. Land management agreements are subject to formal review at least every five years (more often where particular problems are identified).
A planning approach that matches the complexity of the landscape and takes account of assets that are interconnected and linked to socioeconomic values is needed. Such integrated planning looks at multiple costs and benefits rather than single issues (e.g. by assessing the value of woodlands and grasslands against the need to re-establish burnt-out pine plantations and the pressure for urban expansion).
This plan for managing the natural resources of the ACT is overarching, integrating the variety of specific and special purpose natural resource management plans in the ACT (see Appendix 4). It provides an integrated approach across all the natural assets in the ACT and adds new objectives where gaps occur. This plan is consistent with the intent of the Canberra Plan, the Territory Plan and the National Capital Plan. Although the spatial plan embedded within the Canberra Plan incorporates some general natural resource management requirements, it may be appropriate to supplement these with the more specific targets and actions in this plan.