Amendments

The Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 requires the National Capital Authority to keep the Plan under review and to propose amendments when necessary. Draft amendments are prepared and circulated for public comment and the Territory planning authority. Section 20A of the Act provides the means for the Minister to resolve a possible deadlock between the Authority and the Territory planning authority concerning draft amendments to the National Capital Plan. No such action has been required.

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 following Amendments to the National Capital Plan. This web site is located at www.comlaw.gov.au

The following Amendments to the Plan have been made since its inception in 1990. Specific policies of Amendments that have not yet been incorporated into the web-version of the National Capital Plan can be viewed below.

All Amendments are available for download in PDF format.

Amendment 63
Molonglo and North Weston

Amendment 63 (PDF - 1.052 Kb)

Amendment 63 was approved by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Bob Debus, on 24 September 2008.

The amendment will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament.

The purpose of DA63 to the Plan is to enable urban development to occur within Molonglo and North Weston. The Draft Amendment is required to provide for the continuation of urban development in the Territory, while ensuring adequate protection of the National Capital Open Space System.

Other documentation:

Amendment 67
Provisions for Mobile Home Park
Blocks 6 & 8 Section 97 and Block 17 Section 102 Symonston

Amendment 67 (PDF - 191Kb)
Draft Amendment 67 - Consultation Report (PDF - 1.54 Mb)
Media Release - 15 October 2007 - NCA planning for mobile home park finalised

Amendment 67 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 5 October 2007.

The Amendment will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament.

Amendment 67 adds Mobile Home Park use for Blocks 6 & 8 Section 97 and Block 17 Section 102 Symonston only.

A definition for Mobile Home Park is also added to Appendix A - Land Use Definitions of the Plan.

Amendment 66
Diplomatic Mission Yarralumla

Amendment 66 Diplomatic Mission Yarralumla (PDF - 992 Kb)
Consultation report (PDF - 3.46 Mb)

Amendment 66 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 27 July 2007. It is intended to table the amendment in both Houses of Parliament in the August sitting where it will be subject to a 15 sitting day disallowance period.

The purpose of Amendment 66 is to change the land use policies of Blocks 2 and 3 Section 44 Yarralumla to Diplomatic Mission and part of Blocks 6 and 8 Section 128 Yarralumla to Open Space (the remainder of these blocks are currently Open Space).

Amendment 61
West Basin

Amendment 61 West Basin (PDF -1000 Kb)

Amendment 61 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 30 November 2006.

The purpose of Amendment 61 is to set out a framework of land uses and planning and urban design policies to guide future development extending the city to the lake at West Basin and creating a new public waterfront promenade.

West Basin is central to the implementation of The Griffin Legacy. West Basin will be a vibrant cultural and entertainment precinct on the waterfront promenade. The area will create a new city neighbourhood, extending the city to the lake with a cosmopolitan mixture of shops, businesses, cafes and recreation and tourist activities and accommodation.

Amendment 60
Constitution Avenue

Amendment 60 Constitution Avenue (PDF - 1.28 Mb)

Amendment 60 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 30 November 2006.

The purpose of Amendment 60 is to set out a framework of land uses and planning and urban design policies to guide future development along Constitution Avenue from London Circuit to Russell.

Constitution Avenue is central to the implementation of The Griffin Legacy. Constitution Avenue will become an elegant and vibrant mixed use grand boulevard linking London Circuit to Russell, increasing the vitality of the Central National Area and completing the National Triangle. This will be supported by an integrated transport system, broad tree-lined footpaths and outdoor dining and street parking.

Amendment 59
City Hill Precinct

Amendment 59 City Hill Precinct (PDF - 1.70Mb)

Amendment 59 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 30 November 2006.

The purpose of Amendment 59 is to set out a framework of land uses and planning and urban design policies to guide future development of the City Hill Precinct ensuring it takes its place as the symbolic and geographical centre of Canberra Central.

City Hill Precinct is central to the implementation of The Griffin Legacy. The precinct should take its rightful place as the municipal heart of Canberra Central. City Hill Precinct will be reclaimed as Griffin’s symbolic and geographical centre for Civic – a corner completing the National Triangle as a gateway to the Central National Area and a hub connecting significant main avenues and vistas.

Amendment 56
The Griffin Legacy Principles and Policies

Amendment 56 Griffin Legacy - Principles and Policies (PDF - 342 Kb)

Amendment 56 was approved by the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads on 30 November 2006.

The purpose of Amendment 56 is to set out the Griffin Legacy - Principles and Policies to form a basis for making planning and urban design decisions for the Central National Area (CNA), its landscape setting and approaches.

The Griffin Legacy is a blueprint for Canberra and the Territory. It represents a renewed vision to unlock the Central National Area, its landscape setting and approaches. The Griffin Legacy directs future public and private investment in core areas of the capital where opportunities are created for vibrant, mixed use precincts alongside cultural institutions, government buildings and major national attractions. It restores the intended urbanity and vitality of the original Griffin vision for Canberra as a cosmopolitan lakeside city.

Amendment 55 (Office, Retail and Community Facility Uses) Block 16 Section 28 City

Amendment 55 was approved by the Minister for Local Government Territories and Roads on 6 September 2006.

Amendment 55 enables the Australian National University (ANU) to develop Block 16 Section 28 City, with a mix of Office, Retail and Community Facility uses, subject to a Community Facility, being an educational establishment for the ANU, being part of any development.

Amendment 54
Parliamentary Zone (Section 55 Parkes)

Amendment 54 was approved by the Minister for Local Government Territories and Roads on 5 September 2006.

Amendment 54 allows Section 55 Parkes in the Parliamentary Zone to be developed as a significant national place of special status and interests, such as an outdoor exhibition or other cultural activity as well as a significant national building.

Amendment 52
Zoo Expansion (Part Block 1502 Belconnen)

Approved by the Minister for Local Government Territories and Roads on 31 May 2006, the principal effect of the Amendment is the replacement of the ‘Uncommitted Land’ land use policy which previously applied to Part Block 1502 Belconnen, with Development Node (limited to a zoo and associated tourist facilities), and Open Space Park.  The Amendment enables the expansion of the existing zoo, which is located on the adjoining block.

Amendment 49
Civic Principles and Policies (Registered: 7 March 2005)

Amendment Description: The principal effect of Amendment 49 is to replace the special requirements for Civic with principles and policies and, in particular, to

Amendment 48
Signs Policies – Flexibility Provisions and Sponsorship Signs in the Parliamentary Zone (Registered: 7 March 2005)

Amendment Description: Amendment 48 extends flexibility to the Signs Policy in Appendix H of the National Capital Plan to cover signs on unleased land in Designated Areas. In particular, the Amendment allows the National Capital Authority to vary the size of signage proposed on bus shelters consistent with industry standards where not inconsistent with the National Capital values

The Amendment also permits sponsorship signs or sponsors names in specified areas where such names comply with a comprehensive project or precinct signage plans approved by the Authority.

Amendment 46
Gungahlin Drive Extension - Black Mountain Nature Reserve (Gazetted: 20 August 2003)

Amendment Description: Gungahlin Drive Extension - Black Mountain Nature Reserve redefines the western boundary of the Black Mountain Nature Reserve to a minor extent. The new boundary is the eastern edge of the Gungahlin Drive Extension road reserve adjacent to the suburb of Aranda. This amendment provides for the Gungahlin Drive Extension to be within the Urban Area and to remain outside of the Black Mountain Nature Reserve.

Amendment 45
Block 11 and Part Block 14 Section 49 Symonston (Quamby) (Gazetted: 19 November 2003)

Uplifts the Designated Area of the site, and includes it in a “Broadacre Areas” land use policy. This more effectively relates to the established use of a Community Facility as defined in the Plan.

Amendment 44
Office Employment Location Policies (Registered: 8 March 2005)

Amendment 44 modifies the office employment location policies in the National Capital Plan in the light of changes that have taken place in employment in the Australian Capital Territory since the introduction of the National Capital Plan in 1990.

A principal outcome of the review is that there is no longer a need to restrict the location and amount of Commonwealth office employment in Civic.

Other features of the new policies include that major office employment is to be located within Defined Office Employment Centres that occur within the two main transport corridors operating from Gungahlin in the north through the Central area to Tuggeranong in the south and from Belconnen in the west through the Central Area to Queanbeyan in the east. Canberra International Airport is recognized as a Defined Office Employment Centre with an upper limit for general office development of 120000m 2 gross floor area.

Office developments are also permitted at Local and Group Centres at a scale appropriate to each centre. As a general rule offices should not exceed the total retail floorspace in a Local or Group Centre.

Amendment 43
Campbell Park Offices (Gazetted: 5 March 2003)

Broadens the land use policy to allow for the existing Campbell Park Offices site to be used for general offices up to a maximum of 55 000 m2 GFA. This provides flexibility for future use of the site while maintaining its current use by the Department of Defence. The Amendment also reduces the extent of Designated Areas to better reflect the actual use of the site.

Amendment 42
York Park Master Plan

Amendment 42 replaces the York Park and Environs Master Plan which was introduced as Appendix T.2 of the National Capital Plan in 1993. York Park is the prestigious office area in Barton/Forrest bounded by State Circle, Canberra Avenue, National Circuit and Kings Avenue, adjacent to Parliament House.

The revised Master Plan, aims to give a greater emphasis to securing high quality urban design outcomes especially in the public domain and reinforce the role of Windsor Walk as a central landscaped open space serving the office precinct. It also protects the York Park North Tree Plantation within an Environmental Protection Area Open Space Land Use Policy.

Amendment 41
Gungahlin Drive Extension (Gazetted: 4 March 2003)

Confirms the alignment of the Gungahlin Drive Extention to "Existing Arterial Road" and deletes the connection across O'Connor Ridge to Barry Drive.

Amendment 39 (Registered: 30 May 2005)

Amendment 39 provides objectives and development conditions for the Deakin/Forrest Residential Area generally bounded by State Circle Hobart Avenue, National Circuit and Adelaide Avenue. The Amendment is to ensure that the area is developed in a manner appropriate to the setting of Parliament House and the Main Avenue role of State Circle. It includes specific development conditions for sites fronting State Circle, provides for public notification of applications for residential development and generally aligns provisions for home businesses with those existing elsewhere in the ACT.

Amendment 37
Rural Leases in the Districts of Tennent and Booth (Gazetted: 15 June 2000)

Amendment 37 alters the Special Requirements in Appendix G of the Plan to enable existing rural leases in the Districts of Tennent and Booth to be renewed or extended. The availability of the currently leased areas for future water storage purposes will be safeguarded by the incorporation (by the Australian Capital Territory Government) of specific withdrawal clauses in the rural leases.

Amendment 36
Australian Capital Territory Hospice (Gazetted: 24 November 1999)

Amendment Description: This amendment will allow the Australian Capital Territory Government to develop a new and permanent hospice facility on approximately 1 hectare of land near the junction of the East Basin of Lake Burley Griffin and Molonglo Reach (near Grevillea Park).

Amendment 35
Joint Staff College of Weston Creek (Gazetted: 11 April 2000)

Amendment 35 of the National Capital Plan enables the Department of Defence to develop additional parking space for new facilities at its Joint Staff College site in Weston Creek in the ACT.

Amendment 34
Uriarra Forestry Settlement (Gazetted: 22 July 2004 )

proposes changes to the National Capital Plan to alter the land use policy for the Uriarra Forestry Settlement (Block 5 District of Coree) from "Mountains and Bushland" to "Rural". If the Draft Amendment is approved, the Australian Capital Territory Government will be able to consider a variety of land management options for continued residential occupation on the site of the settlement. Finalisation of the Draft Amendment is currently awaiting the views of the Australian Capital Territory Government on the outcomes of the various reports related to the recent bushfires in Canberra.

Amendment 33
Parliamentary Zone Review (Gazetted: 18 September 2001)

introduces a master plan for the Parliamentary Zone to guide planning and development. It also makes a slight adjustment to the road layout in Figure 5 of the Plan in line with an Indicative Development Plan that forms part of the Master Plan.

Amendment 32
ANU Boundary Changes (Gazetted 14 June 2001)

Defintion: alters the National Capital Plan to reflect recent boundary adjustments to the Australian National University and to ensure that all land forming the campus at Acton are within Designated Areas.

Amendment 31
Land Use - Part Sections 29 & 30 Forrest (Gazetted: 13 March 2000)

amends the National Capital Plan by adding 'office' as a permitted land use for Blocks 3, 4 and 6 Section 29 and Blocks 2, 3, 9 and 11 Section 30 Forrest.

Amendment 30
Canberra Airport (Gazetted 29 September 2000)

permits a broader range of land uses at the Airport, removes existing requirements which duplicate regulations now covered in other Commonwealth law and properly reflects the boundaries of the Crown lease of the Airport site.

Amendment 29
Kingston Foreshore (Gazetted 11 April 2000)

Amendment 29 of the National Capital Plan enables Kingston Foreshore to be developed into a mixed-use waterfront precinct by:

Amendment 28
Blackall Place Barton (Gazetted: 19 May 1999)

This Amendment has resulted in a change in land use policy from "Road" to "Community Facility" for Blackall Place. Blackall Place is a public road which is surrounded by land proposed for consolidation to enable the construction of an Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.

Amendment 27
Open Space [Park] - Public Accessibility (Gazetted: 16 February 2000)

proposes to include provisions within the National Capital Plan to clarify that the Plan: allows for the temporary and short-term enclosure of limited areas within parklands around the shores of Lake Burley Griffin for the purpose of conducting time-limited events; and enables the charging of entry fees to these enclosed areas for the duration of these events.

Amendment 26
Acton House (Gazetted: 27 May 1999)

allows for "Residential" and "Hotel" as primary land use policies on the Acton House site. The Amendment also removes the three-storey restriction on building height subject to a requirement that development on the site must be in accordance with the recommendations of a Conservation Management Plan agreed by the Australian Heritage Commission.

Amendment 25
Signs Policy (Gazetted: 20 June 2000)

provides policies for the erection and display of signs on unleased land, including public places, within Designated Areas of the National Capital Plan. The Amendment also includes planning, design and development provisions for billboards and signs at Canberra Airport.

Amendment 24
Special Requirements for Northbourne Avenue (Gazetted: 5 July 1999)

changes the Special Requirements affecting Northbourne Avenue and removes the requirement for the preparation of a Development Control Plan for the Avenue. The key feature of the Amendment is to increase the maximum allowable building height from 25 to 32 metres within designated "landmark nodes" at the intersections of Mouat/Antill Streets and Wakefield/MacArthur Avenues. The Amendment also proposes to:

Amendment 23
Canberra Centre Consolidation (Gazetted: 27 May 1999)

removes the Designated Area status from that part of Ainslie Avenue between Bunda Street and Ballumbir Street in Civic. This will allow detailed conditions set out in Draft Variation to the Territory Plan No 111 to be brought into effect and in turn facilitate the expansion of the Canberra Centre and its consolidation with the City Markets and Target car parking buildings.

Amendment 22
Ginninderra Drive (Gazetted: 6 March 1998)

removes the provision to extend Ginninderra Drive between Mouat Street and Northbourne Avenue in Lyneham. This amendment stems from inquiries made regarding the John Dedman arterial road proposals.

Amendment 21
Telecommunications Policies (Gazetted: 16 June 1999)

comprises new policies for the development of telecommunications facilities in the Australian Capital Territory which are subject to the Telecommunications Act 1997. The policies apply generally within the Territory as well as specifically to facilities proposed in Designated Areas. The Amendment also includes specific policies for lands outside of Designated Areas but which are adjacent to nominated Main Avenues.

Amendment 20
Acton Peninsula (Gazetted: 5 December 1997)

prepared to facilitate development of the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. The amendment also provided for a change to the National Capital Plan, which removed the exclusive reservation of the Yarramundi site for the National Museum of Australia. The amendment does not preclude the future use of the Yarramundi site for national institutions generally.

Amendment 19
Federal Highway (Gazetted: 18 June 199?)

to facilitate duplication of the Federal Highway between the ACT-NSW border and Stirling Avenue, Watson in the ACT.

Amendment 16
Australian National Botanic Gardens (Gazetted: 11 December 1996)

includes a suite of changes relating to the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The amendment:

Amendment 14
General (Gazetted: 11 December 1996)

expands the range of uses permitted in the "Broadacre" area applicable to land in the vicinity of the Canberra Abattoir site near Queanbeyan to uses other than noxious industries.

Amendment 13
Symonston (Gazetted: 8 March 1995)

introduces a new urban area at Block 4 Section 1, Symonston to be used for high technology industrial research, development, and manufacturing.

Amendment 12
Russell (Gazetted: 19 June 1996)

incorporates the Russell master plan which details Conditions of Planning, Design and Development, and includes a new statement of Land Use Policy for Russell. The amendment responds to proposals by the Department of Defence to redevelop parts of the Russell Office complex. These proposals provided an opportunity to reconsider the future planning of Russell in the context of its National Capital significance which derives from the key position it occupies at the incomplete corner of Walter Burley Griffin's national triangle.

Amendment 11
General (Gazetted: 16 November 1994)

incorporates a number of minor changes. Eight diplomatic sites in Yarralumla and Red Hill that have been used or reserved for use for diplomatic purposes are redefined as "Diplomatic Mission", and the boundary of the Embassy of the United State of America is expanded to incorporate a portion of the security Wall which was previously shown as "Road". The land use policy for Albert Hall is amended and the Lanyon Bowl Area is extended to make it consistent with the area described in the Commonwealth Gazette in 1986.

Amendment 9
Hotel Kurrajong (Gazetted: 7 December 1993)

changes the land use for Section 10, Barton form "Hotel, Open Space and Child Care Centre" to "Hotel and Educational Establishment" to allow the Hotel Kurrajong to be converted for use as an international hotel management school including hotel accommodation.

Amendment 8
General (Gazetted: 26 October 1993)

incorporates a number of minor amendments to resolve inconsistencies with the Territory Plan relating to existing pine forests as permitted non-urban land use categories, and makes minor boundary adjustments between land use categories. It also redefines "office" and clarifies the land use policy for Windsor Walk in York Park, Barton, as "National Capital Use".

Amendment 7
Kingston (Gazetted: 25 August 1993)

prepared in response to a proposal to redevelop Blocks 4, 5 and 6, Section 25, Kingston to allow a 15 storey residential tower and a three storey non-retail commercial building and associated car parking to be built. The Authority subsequently limited this three-storey component to two storeys and limited further development in the area to two storeys. The amendment also sought to prohibit further high-rise development in the area.

Amendment 6
West Belconnen (Gazetted: 10 December 1992)

redefined the "Broadacre' area of West Belconnen as "Investigation Area" and to extend the "Urban" area, in order to accommodate the Australian Capital Territory Government's proposal for urban development in the area.

Amendment 4
Harcourt Hill (Gazetted: 9 November 1992)

extension of the urban area of Gungahlin adjacent to the Gold Creek Tourist Centre to accommodate an integrated golf course resort and residential sub-division.

Amendment 3
General (Gazetted: 14 July 1993)

a series of amendments which incorporate policies for siting satellite dishes and other telecommunications equipment, new land use policies in certain parts of Barton, car parking standards for offices in Barton, and amendments to the Plan's employment location policies. The series also incorporates master plans into the Plan for:

Amendment 2
General (Gazetted: 13 December 1991)

a series of 14 amendments principally to overcome deficiencies, rectify typographical errors, and to clarify some provisions. The series of amendments included:

Amendment 1
General (Gazetted: 6 November 1991)

amendments to the detailed conditions of planning, design and development to allow offices to the west of Allara Street in Section 10 City, and to delete "administrative uses: from the land-use policy applying to Section 37, an area east of Allara Street.