Housing Choices Discussion Paper released

Making choices for housing easier for Canberrans

Earlier this month, the ACT Government announced the Housing Choices discussion paper to start a conversation about housing types. The government is keen to broaden the mix of housing in the Territory, in a way that respects the characteristics of neighbourhoods that attract residents in the first place; this is in response to what we heard during the development of the Minister’s Statement of Planning Intent.

The ACT Government is committed to providing housing that works for all Canberrans, and has listened to community feedback about their desire for a greater range of housing options, including free-standing houses, townhouses and other housing types.

Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman said, when he released the Discussion Paper, that in providing more housing types we can cater for a greater range of needs for the community. For example an older person or couple in a large family home may wish to downsize to a smaller house, a young person may be looking for an affordable apartment, or a young couple looking to get started in the housing market might want to buy a townhouse.

In releasing the Housing Choices consultation, engaging with the community will provide an opportunity to hear more from Canberrans about what sort of housing they want and how greater housing options can be delivered. It also allows us to ‘check in’ and test what we’ve already heard.

Talking to the community will help us to improve our understanding of how Canberrans want to see their city develop and what options the Government needs to consider when planning new suburbs and managing urban infill.

Housing Choices as a key topic of conversation will be a valuable way for Canberrans to contribute their ideas on how to achieve better housing outcomes, and be a part of the planning process in our city. In terms of planning for the ACT, we want to get residential planning and design right. The building and development industry has a crucial role to play in contributing to informed conversations about future options for residential development in Canberra.

TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY WILL HELP US TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CANBERRANS WANT TO SEE THEIR CITY DEVELOP.

Let’s think big and not be deterred by any boundaries. Share your views with us about different lifestyle aspirations and help us to create a more compact city, while taking our signature ‘bush capital’ into consideration.

The future of planning for Canberra is exciting. Looking at choices for housing will help guide the reform of the planning system to provide flexibility that supports our community’s desire for more diverse and innovative housing products.

Community’s aspirations for more – and high quality – housing choice can be achieved.

Ben Ponton ACT Chief Planner