As stated by Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay:
"On the crossbench, the ACT Greens have effectively pushed the government to balance the needs for housing and the environment.
"The Greens have pushed the government to progress work on the Missing Middle since early 2023. Two months ago we got the Government to move faster and release the guidelines issued today.
"Not long after, we secured Government commitment to set an urban growth boundary to prevent needless sprawl.
"Just days ago we heard from the ACT's Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment report that decades of prioritising new suburbs over infill in planning Canberra's urban environment has seen a rapid decline in the state of our natural environment.
"We need more homes in Canberra, and we can build them without paving over our precious environment.
"The Missing Middle Design Guidelines released today are an important start to publicly discuss how Canberra will build more homes across our existing suburbs.
"We need the right kinds of homes in the right places. With more town houses, terrace houses and three-storey apartments, more people will live close to the things they need and want in their lives such as parks, schools, work, shops and public transport.
"It gives us a greater housing diversity to meet the needs of the growing number of people who are making Canberra their home.
"But it is just a start. To get this right we need people living in Canberra to be part of this process so we build a city together that best supports the way people live within our current footprint without impacting our marvellous bush capital."
The guidelines and public consultation is available on the ACT YourSay website.
