The National Capital Plan (the Plan) is the strategic plan for Canberra and the Territory. It ensures that 'Canberra and the Territory are planned and developed in accordance with their national significance' The key matters of national significance include:

• The pre-eminence of the role of Canberra and the Territory as the National Capital.
• Preservation and enhancement of the landscape features which give the National Capital its character and setting.
• Respect for the key elements of Walter Burley Griffin's formally adopted plan for Canberra.
• Creation, preservation and enhancement of fitting sites, approaches and backdrops for national institutions and ceremonies as well as National Capital Uses.
• The development of a city which both respects environmental values and reflects national concerns with the sustainability of Australia's urban areas.

This recognises the value of the unique purpose, setting, character and symbolism of Australia's national capital.

In accordance with section 10 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (the Act), the Plan sets out the planning principles and policies for Canberra and the Territory, and detailed conditions of planning, design and development for designated areas because of their particular importance to the special character of the national capital. Planning and approval of development within designated areas is the responsibility of the National Capital Authority (NCA).

This page enables you to download the Consolidated National Capital Plan. You have the option of downloading the Plan as one large file (Option 1) or as several smaller files (Option 2).

The attached files are in Adobe PDF format. You will need at least Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 to view and print these files. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader please click here to download.

If you are having trouble viewing or printing the National Capital Plan, try Adobe's technical support page for troubleshooting Acrobat Reader problems.

This web-version of the Consolidated National Capital Plan incorporates Amendments since 1991. It was last updated in September 2009. Up to date information on approved Amendments and draft Amendments can be found on the here.

The download version of the NCP is currently being updated following the approval of amendments 56 Griffin Legacy principles and policy, 59 City Hill Prrecinct, 60 Constitution Avenue and 61West basin which are now being incorporated into the plan. The updated version of the plan will be available to download shortly.

Disclaimer

The National Capital Plan site is provided as a basic information service only. The information is not an official or complete version of the National Capital Plan. It does not include all elements of the Plan.

The main provisions of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 commenced on 1 January 2005 and as a result registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) web site is now the official form of notification for all legislative instruments which includes the original National Capital Plan as gazetted and subsequent Amendments. This web site is located at www.comlaw.gov.au

The National Capital Authority makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of any information contained in this site. Any use or reliance on the information provided in the National Capital Plan site is at the risk of the user.

Users should verify all representation, information and statements with their own professional advisers. The National Capital Authority will not be liable for any damage or injury to any person arising out of the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of any information contained in the National Capital Plan site.

Further information, technical advice, building and development enquiries should be directed to:

• Telephone 02 6271 2888
• Facsimile 02 6273 4427
• Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Every attempt is made to ensure that information provided is up to date, however, information is subject to change without notice.

Download the Consolidated National Capital Plan

Option 1

You can download by right clicking a link and selecting 'Save link to Disk'

Consolidated National Capital Plan as of July 2010 in one large file (PDF - 51.7 Mb)

Please Note - this may take some time to download unless you have a broadband connection. If you're on a 56k modem, we reccomend going for option 2.

Option 2

Download The National Capital Plan in PDF by section:

Consolidated National Capital Plan Cover and Contents (PDF - 120Kb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Introduction (PDF - 1.95Mb)

• Introduction
• The Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988
• The National Significance of Canberra and the Territory
• The National Capital Plan
• Elements of the Plan
• Review of Broad Land Use Policies
• Figure 1 General Policy Plan – Metropolitan Canberra
• Figure 2 General Policy Plan – Australian Capital Territory
• Figure 3 Designated Areas

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part One - Principles, Policies and Standards. Designated Areas, Special Requirements (Part 1) (PDF - 7.27Mb)

• 1. The Central National Area
  • 1.2 Lake Burley Griffin and Foreshores
  • 1.3 City Hill Precinct
  • 1.4 West Basin
  • 1.5 Constitution Avenue
  • 1.6 Remaining Parts of the Central National Area
  • 1.7 Detailed Conditions of Planning, Design and Development
• Deakin/Forrest Residential AreaThe land between State Circle and National Circuit
• Block 22 Section 6 Barton
• Block 13 Section 9 Barton
• Section 10 Barton
• Blocks 3, 4 & 6 Section 29 And Blocks 2, 3, 9 & 11 Section 30 Forrest
• Block 2 Section 1 Barton
• City: Block 16 Section 28
• Parkland Recreation
• The Lake
• Development Nodes
• Conservation
• Community Facility

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part One - Principles, Policies and Standards. Designated Areas, Special Requirements (Part 2 to 4) (PDF - 1.34Mb)

• 2. Main Avenues and Approach Routes
  • 2.1 Background
  • 2.2 Designated Area 'Main Avenues and Approach Routes
  • 2.3 Special Requirements for Main Avenues
  • 2.4 Special Requirements for Approach Routes
• 3. Employment Location
  • 3.1 Background 80
  • 3.2 Principles for Offi ce Employment Location
  • 3.3 Policies for the Location of Offi ce Employment
• 4. Urban Areas
  • 4.1 Background
  • 4.2 Additional Urban Land in the Territory
  • 4.3 Principles for Urban Areas
  • 4.4 Policies for Urban Areas
  • 4.5 Special Requirements for Urban Areas (refer Figure 20)
    • 4.5.1 National Land Not Included Within a Designated Area of this Plan
    • 4.5.2 Australian Institute of Sport
    • 4.5.3 Haig Park and Telopea Park
    • 4.5.4 Civic
    • 4.5.4.1 Principles for Civic
    • 4.5.4.2 Policies for Civic
    • 4.5.5 Symonston Section 1
    • 4.5.6 Kingston Foreshore

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part One - Principles, Policies and Standards. Designated Areas, Special Requirements (Part 5 and 6) (PDF - 73Kb)

• 5. Broadacre Areas
  • 5.1 Background
  • 5.2 Policies for Broadacre Areas
  • 5.3 Special Requirements for Broadacre Areas
  • 5.3.1 National Land Not Included Within a Designated Area of This Plan
• 6. Transport
  • 6.1 Background
  • 6.2 Principle for Transport
  • 6.3 Policies and Standards for Transport

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part One - Principles, Policies and Standards. Designated Areas, Special Requirements (Part 7 to 12) (PDF - 6.14Mb)

• 7. Urban Design
  • 7.1 Background
  • 7.2 Principles for Urban Design
  • 7.3 Policies and Standards for Urban Design
• 8. National Capital Open Space System
  • 8.1 Background
  • 8.2 Principle for the National Capital Open Space System
  • 8.3 Policies for the National Capital Open Space System
  • 8.4 Special Requirements for the National Capital Open Space System
    • 8.4.1 Lanyon Bowl Area (Refer Figure 27)
    • 8.4.2 National Land Not Included Within a Designated Area of this Plan
  • 8.5 Hills, Ridges and Buffer Spaces
    • 8.5.1 Background
    • 8.5.2 Principle for Hills, Ridges and Buffer Spaces
    • 8.5.3 Policies for Hills, Ridges and Buffer Spaces
    • 8.5.4 Special Requirements for Hills, Ridges and Buffer Spaces
    • 8.5.5 Designated Area 'The Inner Hills'
  • 8.6 River Corridors
    • 8.6.1 Background
    • 8.6.2 Principle for River Corridors
    • 8.6.3 Policies for River Corridors
    • 8.6.4 Special Requirements for Murrumbidgee and Molonglo River Corridors
  • 8.7 Mountains and Bushlands
    • 8.7.1 Background
    • 8.7.2 Principle for Mountains and Bushland
    • 8.7.3 Policies for Mountains and Bushland
    • 8.7.4 Special Requirements for Namadgi National Park Area
• 9. Rural Areas
  • 9.1 Background
  • 9.2 Principle for Rural Areas
  • 9.3 Policies for Rural Areas
  • 9.4 Special Requirements for Rural Areas
    • 9.4.1 Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Complex (Refer Figure 20)
    • 9.4.2 Lanyon Bowl Area (Refer Figure 27)
    • 9.4.3 National Land not Included Within a Designated Area of this Plan
• 10. Heritage
  • 10.1 Background
  • 10.2 Principle for Heritage
  • 10.3 Policies for Heritage
• 11. Environment
  • 11.1 Background
  • 11.2 Principle for Environment
  • 11.3 Policies and Standards for Environment
• 12. Infrastructure
  • 12.1 Background
  • 12.2 Principle for Infrastructure
  • 12.3 Policies for Infrastructure
  • 12.4 Policies for Telecommunications Facilities
    • 12.4.1 General Policies
    • 12.4.2 Specific Policies

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part Two - Administration and Implementation (PDF - 111Kb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Part Three - Background Notes (PDF - 555Kb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Appendix A to Appendix E (PDF - 637Kb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Appendix F (PDF - 475Kb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Appendix G to Appendix S (PDF - 1.08Mb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Appendix T (PDF - 2.82Mb)

Consolidated National Capital Plan Appendix U to Appendix W (PDF - 2.7Mb)

Simplified National Capital Plan

Review of the Format and Language of the National Capital Plan Discussion Paper (PDF - 1.3 Mb)

The National Capital Authority has undertaken a review of the format and language of the National Capital Plan to make it easier to understand and use. A discussion paper has been prepared to review the format and language of the Plan. This paper proposes a new format for the Plan, within the legislative requirements of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988.

In response to the review, the NCA is proposing a single planning document be developed for the Australian Capital Territory which incorporates both the statutory requirements of the National Capital Plan and the Territory Plan.

The review does not change or seek to change the respective legislative roles or powers of the NCA and the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA).

The discussion paper, Review of the Format and Language of the National Capital Plan was publicly exhibited from 8 August 2006 to 22 September 2006. The NCA is currently considering all submissions received on the discussion paper.

Further information is available on (02) 6271 2888 Fax (02) 6273 4427 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .