ACT planning bill to include 'wellbeing principles', to be released early next year

Planning Minister Mick Gentleman released a project update on a review of the territory's planning system, which has been under way for the past two years.

It was revealed earlier this year there would be a new planning act, which would seek to have fewer rules governing elements such as building heights or the number of units in a development.

The new planning bill will be released for community consultation in early 2022.

The government has revealed the proposed legislation would include: expanding the object of the act to be inclusive of wellbeing and liveability principles, the recognition of the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the land and a more efficient and transparent development assessment pathway.

Under the new laws, development application decisions would be published on the ACT's planning website for the first time.

There would also be a new category of a "significant development" in the case where a development is likely required to have a greater consideration of design and environmental impacts.

"Over the past year the ACT government has been working hard to shape our new planning system, which will provide greater clarity on the future directions for our city through district planning," Mr Gentleman said.

"We anticipate that people will be most interested in what's happening in their district. We'll provide draft strategies for further consultation in mid-2022 after consultation on the Planning Bill has closed."

The update has set out five principles for the reformed planning system. These are: easy to use, certainty, flexibility, transparency and outcomes-focused.

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"In the reform system, the authority will be more descriptive of what good planning outcomes are, and what the desired outcomes are for an area," the update said.

"Developments must perform well in their site context.

"This includes consideration of built form, public spaces and interactions with surrounding blocks, amongst other planning considerations."

A key part of the new planning system will be the upgrade of the IT system, which Mr Gentleman said would aim to make engagement with the system easier.

"The government is also considering the ways in which people interact with the planning system and considering how improvements to the IT systems and detailed guidance material can support the implementation of changes in 2023," he said.

"It's important to make interacting with the planning system as easy as possible.

"The community needs to quickly see what's being built near them and to have their say on these developments."

Earlier this year, the ACT's chief planner said the current territory plan forced the planning authority to approve unsuitable developments and gave developers a "clear pathway".

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