The Territory Plan is part of the reason why good, fast cycling infrastructure between town centres for commuting cyclists – cycle highways – has not been and is not likely to be built. The ACT planning has been critiqued for hampering innovation. The comment, while likely directed at urban architecture, is still true for urban planning and design. Cycle highways are not possible without inclusion in statutory documents, such as the Territory Plan.
Tag Archives: Territory Plan
The Territory Plan is a statutory document that guides planning and development in the ACT by managing development in the ACT, enabling assessment of development applications, and guiding the development of new estates and the management of public land.
Resetting ACT Planning
The complaints about the poor outcomes from the ACT Planning system have been discussed throughout the last legislative term, but without reform. Today, Planning Minister, Mick Gentleman, announced that the planning legislation will be rewritten.
Introducing the Territory Plan
The ACT Territory Plan is a mystery for most. Here is a short explanation of what is found in Territory Plan.
Section 7.1 Feels like home
For a few years now, the ACT strategies have promoted a Movement and Place Framework. The idea, best shown in pictures, is difficult to put into practice, as it presumes the ACT Planning and Transport directorates work together.
Section 6.6 Territory Plan: outdated and incomplete
Considering the Territory Plan is a statutory document and the rule book for development in the ACT, one would expect the information contained in it is correct. Unfortunately, our trust in the Territory Plan is misplaced. The Territory Plan is often outdated and misleading.
Section 8.4 Reserving cycle corridors: à la light rail
The cycle network can only be built, if we reserve and preserve cycle corridors. How this is done, was demonstrated by the light rail project and requires changes to the Territory Plan and Planning Act. The ACT Government could copy this approach for cycle corridors.
Section 6.5 Statement of Strategic Directions
The Territory Plan includes a short Statement of Strategic Directions. The 2018 ACT Planning Strategy is none-statutory, so it does not mean a great deal. The Territory Plan is statutory and carries more weight.
Section 6.4 Language of structure plans
Structure plans are high level documents. The closest to planning strategy that can be found in the Territory Plan. Do the principles found in structure plans lead to better suburbs for cycling?
Section 6.3 Cycle paths: planned but not built
The planning mechanism has systemic weakness. The Territory Plan shows that cycle paths are planned but not built. The Territory Plan is a statutory document.
Section 6.2 Lessons of history
The Territory Plan is a scrap book of Canberra’s planning. By looking into the Territory Plan, we can see the DNA of Canberra’s evolution and the history of urban planning in Canberra.
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