The ACT Government has taken a significant step in delivering a well-planned, sustainable and resilient Canberra with important changes being approved to protect the unique and significant ecological values of key sites across Canberra including Coombs Peninsula and Bluetts Block.
The approval of Major Plan Amendment (MPA-05) removes the Future Urban Area (FUA) overlay and confirms zoning for a number of key sites across Canberra, including Bluetts Block, Coombs Peninsula, parts of the Molonglo River Reserve, and several infrastructure and open space sites in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Whitlam and Weston.
Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development Chris Steel said the approval reflects the ACT Government's commitment to protecting, restoring and enhancing Canberra's landscape.
"These planning changes delivers the commitments that Labor made at the election to protect Coombs Peninsula and Bluett's Block," Minister Steel said.
"The approval of this Major Plan Amendment means we can safeguard our natural and recreational areas that make Canberra special while also enabling essential infrastructure to support our growing communities."
MPA-05 aligns with the ACT Planning Strategy by limiting unnecessary urban expansion, strengthening river corridors, and protecting parks and reserves for biodiversity and community enjoyment.
A key outcome of the amendment is the formal removal of the FUA overlay from Bluetts Block, following its identification as a nature reserve earlier this year.
"Bluetts Block holds significant ecological and community value and confirming its long-term protection through this amendment reinforces our commitment to safeguarding important natural landscapes," Minister Steel said.
The amendment also removes the FUA overlay from Coombs Peninsula, rezoning the area as River Corridor and Urban Open Space, with a special-purpose reserve overlay added to support recreational use and future active travel links.
"Coombs Peninsula will now be protected as part of the broader Molonglo River corridor delivering on Labor's commitment at the election. This will preserve the character of the area, enhance access to open space, and ensure the land cannot be developed for residential use," Minister Steel said.
"Canberrans care deeply about how their city grows and changes, and community input has helped shape this final amendment. It gives clarity to residents about how these areas will be used into the future."
MPA-05 also confirms zoning for important infrastructure sites across Molonglo and Belconnen and removes outdated overlays from parts of the Gungahlin Town Centre, enabling appropriate development to proceed.
"This is just one action we are taking to both protect important environmental areas and deliver essential urban infrastructure," Minister Steel said.
The Statement of Planning Priorities 2025-2028 outlines further planning actions to protect the environment and enhance the city's landscape.
"Our Labor Government committed to develop a landscape plan for the ACT led by a new position of the ACT Chief Landscape Architect," Minister Steel said.
"This will involve further planning to strategic spatial planning to proactively identify, protect, conserve and restore areas of environmental value on city's urban interface."
Public consultation on the Draft Major Plan Amendment was held from June to August 2025, with community feedback helping refine boundaries, ensure alignment with existing reserves, and improve long-term planning outcomes.
