Incorporating Active Living Principles into the Territory Plan

Community engagement closed on 10 February 2017.

Have your say on changes to the Territory Plan. These changes are a major step towards the ACT Government's vision for Canberra as a healthy, active, vibrant city. Territory Plan Draft Variation 348 (DV348) supports our city to be well connected, compact and equitable; and the centre for innovation, creativity and economic growth.

Active living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines, such as walking the dog or taking the stairs instead of catching the lift. The planning and design of our city plays a major role in how much active living we undertake in our daily routines. DV348 will help Canberrans meet the National Physical Activity Guidelines on a regular basis.

DV348 will ensure all future development applications consider six active living principles to encourage healthy active lifestyles. Among other things, building and estate designs will need to include good connections to walking and cycling paths, activate public spaces, and encourage physical, social, and economic activities.

The proposed changes include amending the Territory Plan's Strategic Directions, Zone Objectives, several development codes, a general code, the Estate Development Code and adding the definitions for active travel and active living.

Have your say

The ACT Government seeks your comments on DV348. Before commenting, please read the background paper, Incorporating Active Living Principles into the Territory Plan, and the draft variation

Written comments on DV348 should be:

• emailed to: terrplan@act.gov.au, or
• posted to: Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate,
  Territory Plan Section, GPO Box 158, Canberra, ACT 2601
• hand delivered to: Access Canberra, Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Shopfront at 16 Challis Street, Dickson

Background

The Statement of Planning Intent (2015) made by the Minister for Planning and Land Management identifies, as an immediate action, incorporating active living principles into Canberra's planning and statutory framework (the Territory Plan) in all aspects of future planning and development. Doing this requires a variation to the Territory Plan, which is approved by the Minister and tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

Active Living Principles

The background information paper proposes six principles for active living in the ACT:

• Connected places - Providing connections between major uses and activity centres
• Open space - Providing high quality open spaces, parks and places
• Mixed land use and density - Encouraging diversity in activities, land uses and development densities
• Safe and attractive places - Ensuring places are safe and attractive to everyone using that place
• Supportive infrastructure - Providing supportive infrastructure that encourages regular physical activity
• Environments for all - Ensuring places are inclusive and have equitable access by all Canberrans.

These principles are intended to be embedded into the Territory Plan through 45 specific recommendations under Territory Plan DV348. The recommendations are based on: detailed advice from the Heart Foundation (ACT); extensive research from local, national and international case studies; actions from relevant strategic government policy; and input from stakeholder discussions.

Incorporating these specific recommendations into the Territory Plan will create a supportive environment for a healthy, active Canberra.

What's next?

Your comments will be taken into consideration during the finalisation of DV348. The Minister for Planning and Land Use Management will be provided with a report on public comments and how these have been addressed when he receives DV348 for consideration.

If approved, all new developments will be required to address the active living principles, which in turn will encourage Canberrans to live an active and healthy lifestyle.