This project is open for feedback

Canberra is growing — and how we plan for that growth matters.

We’re preparing a long-term plan for the Southern Gateway corridor, which extends from Parliament House to Farrer.

About the project

The Draft Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework (the Framework) is a long-term plan that sets out a vision for how this corridor, extending from Parliament House to Farrer, could develop over the coming decades. It looks ahead to 2050 and beyond, guiding how new homes, transport, jobs, green spaces and community facilities come together in a coordinated way and how new development can respect and enhance the qualities you value most while delivering homes.

The Framework uses a vision-led approach, beginning with a big picture vision for the corridor and working down to the details. The Framework comprises the following elements:

  • Vision – A shared vision for the whole corridor, informed by community feedback and the corridor’s current conditions and future opportunities. The vision sets the direction to guide how the corridor will grow and change to 2050 and beyond.

The vision for the framework is outlined below:

  • Principles – The principles set out the concepts for how the vision can be achieved. They are based on existing ACT planning and transport policy, and set out what matters most, like better transport, green spaces and housing choice, and will guide decisions across the entire corridor.
  • Planning and design moves – The practical ideas for how the principles can be applied in the corridor to bring the vision to life. The Framework includes planning and design moves at the whole-of-corridor, precinct, and place scale.

The vision brings together land use and transport planning to create more liveable neighbourhoods that focus on:

  • More homes in well-located areas
  • Better transport and connections
  • Thriving centres and employment areas
  • Greener places
  • Community facilities.

A growing population means increasing demand for housing, transport and community infrastructure. Planning ahead helps to:

  • Provide more housing in the right locations
  • Reduce urban sprawl
  • Improve travel options
  • Maintain the character and liveability of our neighbourhoods.

How to have your say

This is your opportunity to help shape the future of the Southern Gateway. The Framework is a draft document and we're seeking community feedback before it is finalised. Your feedback will help ensure the Framework reflects community priorities and supports future planning for the corridor.

Your feedback will help:

  • Inform the final Framework.
  • Guide future planning decisions.
  • Influence how neighbourhoods along the Southern Gateway corridor evolve over time.

To make the engagement process easier, download the Engagement snapshot document which outlines what you can provide your feedback on and how you can have your say.

The project area

The Southern Gateway corridor extends from Parliament House to Farrer and encompasses part of the Inner South and Woden districts and includes key centres like Curtin, Mawson and the Woden town centre, and follows major transport routes like Adelaide Avenue, Yarra Glen Drive and Athllon Drive.

The Framework divides the corridor into four distinct precincts, each with a unique character and identity. These precincts include:

  • Inner South precinct – includes parts of Yarralumla, Deakin, Barton and Forrest.
  • Yarra Glen precinct – includes west Deakin, Curtin, Hughes and the future north Curtin residential area.
  • Woden precinct – includes Lyons, Chifley and parts of Garran, including Canberra Hospital, as well as the future north Woden development area, the Woden town centre and the Phillip service trades area.
  • Athllon precinct – includes Swinger Hill, Pearce, Torrens, Mawson and Farrer.

The study area for the Southern Gateway corridor, including the four precincts, is shown in the map below.


What is being proposed

The below tiles outline the key areas outlined within the Framework. The ACT Government is releasing the Framework alongside a Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment so the community can provide feedback on the types of community, sport and recreation facilities needed to support it.

  • More homes in well-located areas

    • A range of housing types
    • More homes close to shops, jobs and rapid transport

  • Better transport and connections

    • Proposed light rail and improved rapid buses
    • Safer walking and cycling connections
    • A more connected, multi-modal corridor

  • Thriving centres and employment areas

    • Vibrant town, group and local centres
    • More jobs, shops and services close to home
    • Walkable urban villages
    • Protecting and enhancing employment areas including west Deakin and the Phillip service trades area

  • Greener places

    • Improved parks and open spaces
    • More trees and shaded areas
    • Enhancements to the Yarralumla Creek corridor

  • Community facilities

    • Planning for future schools, recreation facilities and health services
    • Supporting the needs of a growing population over time

A transit-oriented future for Canberra

The Framework follows an approach known as transit-oriented development.

Transit-oriented development is a way of planning neighbourhoods so that more homes, jobs and everyday services are located close to public transport. The Southern Gateway corridor is already a key transport route, connecting the Inner South and Woden.

This approach creates walkable neighbourhoods, where daily needs are close by.

This means:

  • More housing density near rapid bus routes and proposed light rail
  • Mid-rise housing near centres, with building heights gradually stepping down to integrate with surrounding suburbs
  • Safer walking and cycling connections
  • Greener streets, parks and public spaces.

Transit-oriented development:

  • Makes everyday life easier
  • Provides more options to walk, cycle or use public transport
  • Makes the most of public transport investment
  • Reduces the need to expand into natural areas
  • Creates vibrant communities
  • Provides better access to community facilities and public spaces.

FAQ

The Framework identifies areas where housing density could increase along the corridor, subject to further investigation. In line with the approach to locate more housing close to shops and rapid transport, new development will generally be focused in existing residential areas within:

  • 800 metres of rapid transport stops
  • 1,000 metres of Woden town centre
  • 800 metres of group centres (Curtin and Mawson)
  • 400 metres of local centres

This approach, known as gentle densification, aims to gradually increase housing density in a way that is small-scale, human-centred, and respectful of existing neighbourhood character and walkability. The image below outlines the mix of housing types proposed across the corridor to support population growth and community needs in the areas where it is most appropriate.

Mid-rise housing will be concentrated around activity centres and near light rail stops, rapid bus stops, and local and group centres. Building heights will transition down towards established low-rise suburban areas, supporting the government’s commitment to gentle densification.

High-rise housing will be limited to Woden town centre. Higher-density development is also suitable for the north Curtin residential area, where there is strong access to transport, services, community facilities, and amenities.

Lower-density housing will remain in areas further from centres and rapid transport stops, although many of these locations will still be within walking distance of key destinations.

New housing opportunities in the corridor will be delivered gradually over coming decades, responding to the needs of a growing community.

Appropriate housing scales within the corridor

The Framework is a non-statutory document, meaning that while it does not determine outcomes, it will provide direction for future changes to the planning controls along the corridor.

Any proposed changes that put the Framework into action will be rolled out gradually, and each stage will include consultation and opportunities for community feedback before decisions are made.

The Services Trades (CZ3) Technical Paper is an evidence-based report that examines the role, performance and future of CZ3 (Services) zoned land across the ACT.

CZ3 land supports businesses that provide services, trade supplies, storage, logistics and low impact industrial activities, such as vehicle repairs, workshops and small-scale manufacturing. These areas provide important employment opportunities and often offer more affordable commercial space than town centres.

The paper reviews how CZ3 areas are performing, identifies opportunities and challenges and provides strategic recommendations to help inform future planning decisions. It includes a detailed assessment of the phillip service trades area, responding to the Minister for Planning's request for further work on the future of the precinct and outlining six planning options for consideration.

The technical paper does not change planning policy or zoning. Instead, it provides the evidence and analysis to support future planning work and decision-making.

In 2024, the ACT Government commissioned the Community, Sport and Recreation Facilities Needs Assessment and Social Infrastructure Audit, which looked at facility needs across most ACT districts. This was an ACT wide study.

Using the information from this audit, a Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment was prepared to better understand current and future community infrastructure needs across the corridor. Social infrastructure includes the places and services that help people live healthy, connected lives, such as schools, health services, parks, libraries, community centres, meeting places and sporting facilities.

The Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment is being released alongside the Framework to support informed community feedback. The assessment provides an evidence base to support long-term planning and investment. It will help inform conversations with the community and guide future decisions about the type, location and timing of social infrastructure needs to support growth along the corridor.

The Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment helps ensure that planning for the Southern Gateway is not just about housing and transport but also about providing the facilities, services and spaces needed to support a growing and changing community.

Read the Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment.

The Southern Gateway Community Needs Assessment identified several key trends and opportunities:

  • Growing demand: Population growth and increasing density are creating opportunities to expand and enhance community, sport and recreation facilities, particularly in Woden, to support a larger and more active population.
  • An ageing population: There are opportunities to strengthen aged care, health services and integrated models of care that support people to age well within their communities.
  • Expanding community spaces: Demand for spaces that support young people, older residents, arts, culture and flexible community activities presents opportunities to diversify and modernise the community infrastructure network.
  • Sport and recreation growth: Increasing participation in sport and recreation creates opportunities to invest in indoor sports facilities, outdoor courts and youth-oriented recreation spaces, like skate and BMX infrastructure.
  • Education and childcare development: Population growth provides opportunities to expand schools and early childhood services, improve accessibility and support greater provision by not-for-profit providers.
  • Enhancing open spaces: Existing open space assets provide opportunities to improve accessibility, functionality and supporting amenities, such as dog parks and community gardens, to support higher-density within neighbourhoods.
  • Responding to changing community needs: Increasing cultural diversity and evolving household structures create opportunities to deliver more inclusive, accessible and adaptable services, facilities and programs that meet a wider range of community needs.

A Community Needs Assessment is a way of understanding what facilities, services and spaces a community has now, and what it will need in the future. It looks at population growth, existing infrastructure (like community centres, sports facilities and open space) and whether there are any gaps or areas where demand is increasing.

It combines data, planning analysis and community input to build a clear picture of local needs. This helps guide decisions about where new facilities are needed, how existing ones can be improved, and how to plan for a growing and changing community so people can continue to live well.

For the Southern Gateway Corridor, the needs assessment:

  • Identifies existing community and social infrastructure across the corridor
  • Uses population forecasts, benchmarking and best practice research to understand future needs
  • Considers opportunities to improve access to community infrastructure and coordinate future delivery
  • Helps inform long term planning and investment decisions
  • Provides an evidence base to support community engagement and future planning.

Once engagement closes a listening report will be prepared and released to the community. The feedback received will be used to inform the final Framework.

Once the final Framework is released, it will guide how the area grows and changes over time.

This won’t be the last chance for community input. There will be more opportunities to have your say as planning progresses in the corridor. If planning proposals or changes to planning controls are developed to implement the Framework, they will be consulted on separately through the ACT Planning website in accordance with legislative requirements.

Future changes to planning controls and policy

The Framework is a strategic planning document that sets out a long-term vision for the corridor to 2050 and beyond. While it does not change planning rules, it will help guide future planning and development decisions.

To support this vision, changes to planning controls will be needed through updates to the Territory Plan and, in some areas, the National Capital Plan. The ACT Government and the National Capital Authority will work together on these changes and continue to consult with the community as specific proposals are developed.

Updates to the Territory Plan (the ACT's planning “rulebook”) are made through Major Plan Amendments. These amendments can enable significant changes, such as new housing, shops, offices, community facilities and changes to building heights.

Key things to know about Major Plan Amendments:

  • Changes will be introduced in stages over time rather than all at once.
  • Each stage will focus on different parts of the corridor, starting with priority areas identified for change.
  • Every Major Plan Amendment includes opportunities for community consultation and feedback before decisions are made.

Future Major Plan Amendments and planning proposals will be consulted on separately through the ACT Planning website in accordance with legislative requirements. They are not part of this YourSay consultation.

In simple terms, Major Plan Amendments are the process used to update planning rules to support future development.

You can learn more about the Territory Plan and Major Plan Amendments by visiting the ACT Planning website.

While the Framework does not determine future development outcomes, it will help guide future Major Plan Amendments and also inform the review of District Strategies, which occurs every five years.

Read all FAQs open in new window