Sustainable Future Workshop Findings Report

Workshop findings report

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© Australian Capital Territory, Canberra ~ 2009 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright ACT 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the ACT Planning and Land Authority, GPO Box 1908, Canberra City ACT 2601

Sustainable Future Workshop Findings Report, ACT Planning and Land Authority, ACT Government, Canberra, Australia 2009.

DISCLAIMER Any representation, statement, opinion or advice. express or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that the Australian Capital Territory, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement, or advice referred to above. This publication is printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks.

Minister’s Foreword A Message from the Minister for Planning Dealing with climate change and committing to action is imperative for government, business, industry and the community. The ACT Government is committed to dealing with climate change and the Sustainable future program is a clear demonstration of that commitment. This three-year program focuses on reviewing planning policy and identifying strategies and measures that will complement the government’s sustainability policy People, Places and Prosperity. The program recognises that the built environment, which includes transport, contributes to more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT. Sustainable future has brought together leading thinkers from across the country at a series of workshops on diverse subjects, drawing out ideas on how to both reduce climate change and mitigate its effects through smarter/better planning. The program is now mid-way and this workshop findings report is an integral output highlighting views for change and proposals for our future. Sustainable future will ultimately help shape our city, creating a new plan for a more sustainable Canberra. The outcomes of this program will help make our city more resilient to climate change. I encourage you to read this report, provide feedback and have your say on a Sustainable future for your neighbourhood and for our city.

Andrew Barr MLA Minister for Planning

Executive summary The Sustainable future program is a major initiative of the ACT Government, which the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) is project managing. Its purpose is to make a substantial contribution to making Canberra a more sustainable city through land use planning strategies and polices that will:

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 ake the urban structure and form (our city and all the spaces that are part of the city) more resilient m to change

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minimize redundancy and maximise adaptability

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promote actions that will abate climate change

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reinforce Canberra’s amenity and the community’s open and democratic values.

Six stakeholder workshops, canvassing themes that significantly affect Canberra’s urban structure and form and sustainability, were held with the purpose of gaining some insight into the relative priority of issues, the appetite for change and potential actions. This document reflects the collective vision and intellect of attendees at the workshops. One of the biggest messages from the workshops was that a ‘business as usual’ approach is not sustainable in the planning, administrative and economic systems of Canberra. The need for integration of these systems was highlighted as was the need to support a performance-based approach that can monitor and respond to change. We need to be able to measure the impact of what we do so that we can be clear about the effects of change over the long term. While a great many of the actions proposed go well beyond ACTPLA’s statutory functions and powers, they are still significant in informing the two key planning outcomes envisaged from the program. The first outcome is a review of the policy content in the land use codes in the Territory Plan, with the residential and subdivision codes being the highest priority This review is already underway, however findings from the Sustainable future workshops will be fed into the review and any policy changes will be the subject to further public consultation. The second outcome is an evaluation of the Canberra Spatial Plan, leading to the refinement of strategic planning actions to achieve the ACT Government’s policy agenda on affordability, liveability and sustainability, including the aspiration of zero net carbon emissions by 2060. Ultimately this evaluation will inform the review of the ACT Planning Strategy, which is required under the Planning and Development Act 20071. In regard to the second outcome— the policy direction of the Spatial Plan for a more compact city form — was reaffirmed. The evaluation will seek to broaden the discussion started in the workshops about identifying strategies to achieve a more compact city form and how Canberra can:

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support the de-carbonisation of our economy

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realise the greater prosperity (economic and social) resulting from more sustainable development

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be resilient and adaptive to climate, cultural and demographic change

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foster inventive responses to climate change

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remove the spatial and access barriers that impede more sustainable behaviour

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be more environmentally sensitive and responsible to its own and surrounding areas

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encourage the development of community networks

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enhance Canberra as a beautiful and livable city.

Section one of this paper describes the purpose of the paper, while section two provides the background to the creation of the Sustainable future program. Section three discusses the broad findings of the workshops and focuses on barriers to action and common themes. Section four provides a rationale for how the workshop results have been analysed, but the actual material can be found in Appendix 2. Lastly, section five discusses the implications for planning and sets out the next steps in refining the Spatial Plan for a more ‘sustainable future’.

Contents 1.0 Purpose of this document

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2.0 Background to the Sustainable future program

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3.0 Workshop analysis

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3.1 Barriers

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3.2 Common issues

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3.3 Thematic analysis of workshops

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4.0 Implications for planning

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4.1 Statutory context and constraints

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4.2 Urban structure and the existing Spatial Plan

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4.3 Recalibrating the vision

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4.4 Baselines and performance targets

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4.5 Developing scenarios

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5.0 Where to from here?

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Appendix 1 - List of speakers and workshops

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Appendix 2 - Workshop Tables

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Appendix 3 - Historic Maps of Canberra

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Appendix 4 - Sustainable transport Action Plan 2010-2016

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1.0 Purpose of this document The main purpose of this document is to report on the proceedings of and broaden the discussion from six stakeholder workshops hosted by ACTPLA on a sustainable future for Canberra. The workshops were designed to gather information that would help ACTPLA undertake a review of planning policies that guide the development of Canberra. This document summarises the recommendations made by participants at the workshops. Participants were invited to attend based on their knowledge or pre-existing involvement with the issues debated. This report synthesises the input. It became clear that while ACTPLA’s objective was the policy review, participants were much more interested in a holistic view of sustainability. This is an important issue because government departments work within a statutory scope. The community, however, is generally not aware of or even necessarily interested in such institutional divisions. The workshops illustrated this perfectly, with a wide range of suggestions for action to improve the sustainability of Canberra being made with little concern about how the change would happen. Issues about improving Canberra’s sustainability are interrelated. So despite some proposals not being ones that ACTPLA can action it was considered important that these suggestions be acknowledged so they are included in Appendix 2. Lastly, this report considers the implications for planning in regard to moving toward a more sustainable future and how, through the use of scenarios we can create a new vision for the Spatial Plan.

2.0 Background to the Sustainable future program The drive to create the Sustainable future program partly came from the adoption of the ACT Government’s Weathering the Change strategy and a solar design workshop convened in 2007. This strategy recognised the need for major changes in Canberra’s urban fabric so that significant reductions in consumption of nonrenewable energy could be achieved. This issue had also been flagged in the Canberra Spatial Plan. The Sustainable future program was developed to help guide government decision making on the most appropriate way to progress and manage change to the urban ecology of Canberra. In addition to contributing to future emissions savings, the program has an overarching goal to implement planning policy for more sustainable living that recognises social and cultural factors such as diversity, integrity, and spirituality and draws on the inherent qualities of Canberra.

2.1 Workshops As a first step, a series of workshops consisting of expert speakers and stakeholders was run. Each workshop had between four and six speakers, selected for their expert knowledge of the subject area and their ability to stimulate discussion. The workshops gave ACTPLA an understanding of current stakeholder interests. During the program development process four major drivers of change, or goals were identified. These were to:

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 uild resilience and responsiveness to change (perceived to be climate change, climate variability, b peak oil, the ageing population and changes to the economic base)

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 inimize redundancy and maximise adaptability, which responds to the need to ensure m intergenerational equity and to ensure that the built form can adapt to changing needs over time

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take actions that abate the causes of climate change

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foster a consciousness of sense and responsibility to community, place and self;retaining and developing the values that make Canberra special and to protect the egalitarian and democratic values of the community.

All speakers were given briefs that included these drivers and were asked to design their presentations with this in mind. Four other common issues that related to the drivers were also highlighted for the speakers. These were accessibility, affordability, community health/wellbeing and economics. Finally, each brief included information about the particular topic. The workshops were on:

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Transport and communication – toward an accessible Canberra

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Culture and knowledge – Canberra’s community living sustainably

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Energy – towards a carbon neutral Canberra

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Water and infrastructure – securing the city

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Bush Capital – our city in the landscape

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 conomics and administration for sustainability – valuing and administering a sustainable future for E Canberra.

During analysis of workshop recommendations it became clear that many propositions were multifaceted and crossed boundaries between workshops. For example, transport-related recommendations had connections to energy, open space, community safety, housing affordability and culture. This again reflects the importance of understanding the interrelated nature of issues in dealing with sustainability. This also led to the grouping of the actions and proposition around themes (see section 4.0) that crossed the workshop topics.

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While preparing this paper, the Chief Minister announced the aspirational target of zero net carbon dioxide emissions for Canberra. The 2009 Budget also contained programs that echoed recommendations made by participants.2 Therefore, some of the propositions discussed at the workshops have been or are being implemented. Achieving the target of zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2060 will require a review of a broad range of government policies, strategies and plans. This document makes reference to parts of existing policies, strategies and plans. It opens a discussion about how planning policy might be revised in light of this new goal and other broader sustainability goals. Readers should be aware that participants talked about sustainability in Canberra in the broadest sense and much of what is contained in this paper falls a long way outside ACTPLA’s statutory functions. These functions are detailed in the Planning and Development Act (section 5.1) . Most relate to development of and maintaining the Territory Plan and the Spatial Plan and responsibility for the decisions made under those plans. There are also other functions such as the regulation of the building industry. It is important that readers be aware that publication of the workshop proceedings does not constitute agreement by ACTPLA or any other department which has sustainability as a key policy issue.

3.0 Workshop analysis 3.1 Barriers This section elaborates on the barriers identified at the workshops. The solutions to these barriers are not all within the scope of ACTPLA, and some are well beyond the scope of any government. However, they are in this paper because they are society wide and cut to the core of the debate about what sustainability is and what it should be in Canberra. Therefore, ACTPLA must be aware of them because they will affect its attempts to improve sustainability outcomes across the city.

3.1.1 Outmoded thinking One of the clear barriers discussed in all workshops was outmoded (i.e. out-of-date) and inappropriate thinking. The description of outmoded thinking varied according to the workshop and to the workshop speaker. For example, Jessica Weir deconstructed the assumptions that support the notion of the environment as a resource for human benefit. Steve Keen illustrated how traditional economic concepts actually drive the unsustainable boom/bust economic paradigm. Jarret Walker addressed how the design of public transport systems can be negatively affected by common but untested assumptions, using the example of changing buses and trip times.3 Dualistic thinking (the idea that there are only two ways of thinking i.e. an either or approach) was identified as a major barrier. An either/or approach divides opinion, reduces options, and creates a false dichotomy (i.e. the false notion that there are only two options). Included in this was an emphasis on the environment seen principally as a resource that needs to be accounted for, as if it really were a profit and loss situation and not a life support system. Another way this shows up is the division between landscape/city and nature/culture. An either/or approach is also antagonistic to a systems way of thinking (i.e. looking at a whole system rather than parts of the system), that workshop participants strongly supported. A systems way of thinking means that the relationships between all parts of a system need to be understood when tackling an issue. Knowledge and understanding about sustainability was highlighted in a range of areas. This included:

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 lack of knowledge about the environment of Canberra, for example Sara Beavis’s paper illustrated a deficiencies in knowledge about groundwater, its interconnecting elements, and particularly about how to appropriately value and account for environmental services

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feelings of apathy, despair, cynicism or powerlessness

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 onfusion around differing projections of climate change impact contributed by the range of c stakeholders, covering all points of the political spectrum

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reconsideration of economic models that have driven government policy and spending priorities to date.

3.1.2 Inertia A second major barrier was inertia, encountered physically, institutionally and socially. Inflexibility in traditional approaches to planning from our institutions was recognised. Participants identified that the speed of expected environmental change under most climate change scenarios is likely to outstrip the capacity of governments globally to adapt. Sustainable planning would need better interdepartmental coordination and a whole-of-government commitment to sustainability. Participants supported ACTPLA’s attempts to make planning more flexible and adaptable in line with sustainability principles. However, due to the general nature of the workshops, they could only point out general areas for further work.

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Physically, we have inherited an urban structure and form that locks most citizens into a resource hungry lifestyle. At some level we are all familiar with what inflexibility means in urban structure, for example the nature of urban structure and form combined with increasing social pressures tend to force people towards car transport. Travel to work data shows that most trips in Canberra are by car. Socially, the weight of habit in social relationships and practices can be hard to overcome e.g. habits of seeing green grass as beautiful or public transport as distasteful. Incremental personal change can, over time, become a powerful force for change, but it requires a daily choice to overcome inertia. Through the intelligent use of incentives, disincentives, policy and by showcasing sustainable communities for a better lifestyle, government can encourage this process of personal change.

3.1.3 Oversimplification We live in complex interrelated social, environmental and economic systems, and any interventions in one lead to ramifications elsewhere. Hence, an emphasis on simplicity or simple ‘one size fits all’ approaches, that sound politically and socially appropriate, was identified as a barrier because it discourages people from thinking holistically. Applied to water as an example, this assumes that reduction in water consumption is all that is required, whereas desirability for less water use must be considered together with the ramifications for infrastructure life. Applied to public transport, a one size approach assumes that single parents have the same mobility needs as people working full time. More broadly, participants pointed to a failure to recognise diversity. The inability to recognise diversity and connections in all spheres is important. Diversity and complexity is basic to sustainability and should be a foundation of policy and programs. Policy and program responses will need to be developed for different scales and stages of urban development. One size will not fit all.

3.1.4 Inappropriate resourcing Workshop participants recognised that it takes substantial funding to carry out the kinds of programs, projects and policy changes that many thought were needed. In a global recession (and for that matter, even without one) there tends to be a mindset of cutting the government sector and the services it provides. Instead, as Mollie Harriss Olson pointed out in the final workshop, the global financial crisis is liberating considerable funds for economic stimulus packages that could be intelligently applied to a range of sustainability needs. However, Australia finds itself outstripped by South Korea which is spending more than eighty per cent of its stimulus packages on environmental adaptation measures. This approach would provide employment and address vital sustainability needs. Funding for retrofitting existing areas is also extremely expensive. This was particularly highlighted in the water, energy and transport workshops, for example in the water workshop James Rosenwax discussed a recent Sydney waterway rehabilitation project that cost one million dollars per kilometre.

3.1.5 Time frames Various aspects of time were highlighted as barriers. These included:

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procrastination over important decisions

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whether or not ‘the tipping point’ had already been reached, noting that various kinds of tipping points have been proposed in the literature4

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community engagement is time and resource intensive

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citizens have time pressures that inhibit/limit getting socially involved

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pressure to complete projects under unrealistic time frames

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not being prepared to spend time developing and piloting projects to induce behaviour change to find out if they will be effective.

This was contrasted with a sense of urgency about the amount of time left for humanity to reverse its discernible impact on the planet.5

3.1.6 Personal values While sustainability is a dominant theme across all spheres of government, it is recognised that many individuals do not consider it to be as important as other aspects of their lives. The community in general will have widely differing points of view about the relative importance of sustainability and the debate around such points of view is important in a liberal democracy. This can be complicated by the fact that sustainability itself can’t be measured, even though matters that contribute to it such as energy consumption, commuting distance, source and cost of food can be measured. Steve Keen demonstrated in his presentation that the current level of debt is approximately two and a half times the level of debt during the Great Depression, which means that for many people their personal values will crystallise around matters like being able to adequately feed their children and keep their jobs. Globally, however, Australians remain amongst the most well fed and housed. Or, to put that in the reverse, about one billion people live in extreme poverty.6 Other illustrations of differing personal values that were raised included the increasing trend to larger houses and an indoor-oriented culture, preference for traditional style gardens, and the comfort of the private car. However, Molly Harriss Olson reminded economics workshop participants that recent research on social change has found that only 15 per cent of a population seeking to change constitutes a tipping point. This 15 per cent is highly innovative and paves the way for the next 35 per cent who are supportive in principle but prefer to wait for technology to be proven. While no research has been undertaken in Canberra to verify how this model applies in our situation, Will Steffen in his presentation noted that Canberra has a better chance than most because of high levels of education among the population.

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3.2 Common issues This section briefly discusses the most important issues that came out of the workshops. These issues were often raised across multiple workshops indicating the complexity of sustainability issues and their interlocking nature.

3.2.1 Resilience to climate change Every workshop discussed some aspect of the expected cumulative impacts of climate change. If there is one message from this process, it would be that participants supported a wide-ranging and integrated approach to building resilience in Canberra. Participants discussed resilience relating to infrastructure planning, social impacts, preservation of biodiversity, consumption patterns, cultural understanding, and urban structure, to name a few. The ongoing development of an integrated sustainability policy tied to targets, that is adaptive is the major way planning can contribute to improving Canberra’s resilience in the long term.

3.2.2 Intangible values It was clear that most participants and speakers placed great value on intangible qualities, such as feeling connected in the community or attempting to live ‘lightly’. These were the values that made their lives meaningful and important. Some speakers and participants alluded to the need to rediscover or create a more spiritual sense of being and a way of relating to the land we live on that can be supported by spending time in nature. The challenge is to provide a planning policy that identifies, retains and extends these values, through the way it engages with citizens and through the resulting city fabric. Hence creating and maintaining public spaces, especially in inner urban areas becomes highly important as they need to meet various human needs (ecological, recreational, physiological, emotional, socio-cultural and spiritual). The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol (2005) offers seven principles that Canberra could consider in its own approach to successful place making. The so called 7Cs are a) understand context b) enrich existing character c) provide people with choice in places, d) make connections, e) encourage creativity, f) practice custodianship, and g) employ collaboration.

3.2.3 Progress in public transport The need for a fast, efficient and attractive public transport system was highlighted in every workshop. This was expressed particularly at the transport and energy workshops, but participants at other workshops such as culture and knowledge alluded to it as well in recommendations for increasing density. It was noted at the economics workshop that a high quality, cheap, and frequent public transport system doubled as a strategy to address affordability in housing by bringing more housing in reach of more people and reducing the cost of travel. There was strong agreement that an immediate and ongoing increase in public spending on public transport infrastructure was essential if Canberra was to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Recognising the importance of public transport’s contribution to reducing the use of fossil fuels, the government has progressed planning of the strategic public transport network as part of developing a Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010–2016. Consultation on the network plan is underway, with three critical questions of particular interest to the planners. Jarret Walker presented these questions as part of his presentation Urban Design Strategies for Efficient Public Transport at the Transport and Communication workshop in November 2008. He reiterated these during a transport roundtable, public transport workshops and an open house session in July and August 2009. The questions reveal our values as a community: where should high frequency services be located, what should the basic service to our neighbourhoods be and what investment or contribution to the overall quality of service is appropriate?

The workshop findings serve to strengthen and confirm work (coordinated through The Department of the Territory and Municipal Services) that is underway and suggests further initiatives are needed. The link between land use planning and transport is circular. Both these aspects of planning need to be continually supported to ensure a more compact and efficient urban structure and form. Reflecting the inextricable links between transport and land use planning, the Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010–2016 will include strategies relating to public transport, parking, cycling and walking. More detail about the Sustainable Transport Action Plan and associated strategies can be found at www.sustainabletransport.act.gov.au or see a summary of the Sustainable Transport Action Plan program at Appendix 4. Increasing the use of all sustainable transport modes—public transport, walking and cycling—will be essential to supporting the goal of carbon neutrality for Canberra.

3.2.4 A more compact urban structure and form On the whole, participants supported a more compact urban form in Canberra. To achieve this the need for increased density in the existing urban area and less development in greenfield areas was identified. The support for densification came with some important qualifications. Participants at the culture and knowledge workshop were keen to emphasise that how density was ‘designed in’ made a significant contribution to social outcomes. Poorly designed high density areas can have poor environmental and social performance. Well designed redevelopment on the other hand has the potential to support existing services and amenities in areas experiencing population decline. Increasing the intensity and mix of activities in targeted areas such as town centres and transport corridors was identified as vital to creating a more flexible density policy and a priority for creating a more sustainable urban structure. Participants at the bush capital workshop had major concerns that opportunistic rather than strategic densification would exacerbate the heat island effect and have unacceptable outcomes for biodiversity, recognising that Canberrans universally value the bush capital qualities of landscape, openness and the city’s country town atmosphere. Questions posed included: is there a way of keeping the urban forest and having a more compact form? And, is the fact this question is asked an indication of the kinds of dualistic thinking identified as a barrier?

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Participants at the economics and bush capital workshops acknowledged that increasing population density in established areas was an important sustainability goal. They recommended ACTPLA invest in research, policy development and code requirements that will support methods to manage sometimes conflicting goals such as design for passive solar access, planting for landscape character and shade, efficient use of land and natural ventilation. A shift in focus towards strengthening the primary relationship between people and the places in which they live and work is essential to achieving a compact city. The final concern was that an increase in density without a corresponding improvement in services and public infrastructure would not provide the conditions necessary for sustainable communities. Improvements such as higher quality and more frequent public transport and maintenance of local services would be a necessary condition for higher density development.

3.2.5 Housing and neighbourhood design There were wide-ranging aspects to this theme (see also Section 3.2.13.) This included design for solar power, accessibility, social inclusion, sustainable use of materials, reduced site coverage with a corresponding increase in private open space, water management, sustainable gardens and parks, and promoting public transport. There are already some provision in the Territory Plan and Planning and Development Act addressing these issues. For example, generally installing solar panels for electricity generation or water heating on domestic buildings is exempt from requiring a development application. Solar access to main living areas and private open space together with the size and location of private open space is regulated and the subdivision code sets principles that aim to make walking, cycling and the use of public transport attractive. Many aspects of building design and performance are regulated in the Building Code of Australia and are regulated at a federal rather than a state level. Workshop participants were keen to explore other ways that could raise the standard of house and neighbourhood design. There is a trend to build ever larger houses on smaller blocks (‘McMansion homes). Tony Hall’s presentation included data on this trend. Many participants recognised that we need more flexible and adaptable ways of building housing and infrastructure. Until recently, housing in Canberra has been predicated on the nuclear

family model. At the same time, not every single person will gravitate to a flat, nor will every family gravitate to a suburban home. Providing choice in design, location and lot size is more easily achieved in a new area. The challenge is how to achieve greater choice using existing housing stock. Adaption of existing buildings and the identification of surplus government land must be considered in order to increase the availability of appropriate housing and house sites for a wide range of demographic groups. This will also contribute to the increase in density and better use of existing infrastructure. Dwelling design could also consider future adaptive use, for example, a dwelling could be initially designed to cater for a family, but be readily adaptable as a group house or supported aged care (granny flat) with minimum changes. High standards of thermal comfort and access to efficient public transport are also essential for future designs, especially for those on lower incomes. Because of its status as a Territory, ACTPLA has a mix of building and planning regulatory functions. This is not the case in other state planning departments. In addition to a review of the Territory Plan to achieve improved sustainability outcomes, ACTPLA is also extensively involved in a wide range of energy efficiency work, e.g. the additional technical regulation will be required to complement the feed-in tariff or the introduction and administration of licensing and auditing of energy assessors.

3.2.6 Governance, engagement and public participation All workshops concluded that community engagement and public participation must be addressed more proactively. The sense coming from the workshops was a need for a reorientation towards a genuine, meaningful engagement approach that tended to be defined as starting without already drafted plans or a predetermined outcome. At the same time the workshops were being held, the Chief Minister’s Department was undertaking research on the perception of previous consultation and engagement efforts. This has resulted in a renewed website which outlines all current government activities and a wide range of other information related to improving public participation.7 For ACTPLA, there is a statutory requirement for formal consultation on planning and policy changes. Additionally the Planning and Development Act sets a framework for consultation especially on environmental impact statements. Some presenters provided information about different types of governance structures that might be explored. In particular this was discussed at the Bush Capital workshop. For example Catherin Bull suggested that volunteer labour in Canberra’s parks could be considered a contribution towards the payment of rates. ACTPLA has a limited role in the management of open space, but care should be taken that governance structures do not create barriers to allow for innovative forms of community-based management and use of open space.

3.2.7 Sustainable behaviour and reducing consumption Most presenters discussed consumption directly or indirectly and a number of recommendations were made based on the need to reduce consumption. Consumption drives a wide range of environmentally damaging processes. It was noted that Canberra has nationally high levels of consumption due to a higher average household income and a high degree of car dependency in a low density, spread out city.8 This causes stress on natural ecosystems everywhere via the clearing and extraction of products for manufacturing and via waste processing. On the positive side, Canberrans are willing to make changes to their lives. Many Canberrans surveyed have already taken steps to reduce energy use, such as by purchasing energy efficient appliances and reducing water consumption. The main reason given for these changes is having a personal responsibility to do the right thing. This indicates a preparedness to increase levels of sustainable behaviour in the community.9

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High consumption is related to the cost of living, existing built infrastructure and housing, and is also to a way of thinking that equates having with being and ‘status’. Wackernagel and Yount wrote in Footprints for Sustainability, the next steps: Urban design has a significant impact on peoples consuming behaviour. It influences not only how they shop, but also how they move around, and what kind of houses they live in and what kind of urban infrastructure services they require.10 Researchers have concluded that the link between urban design and resident behaviour is critically important and requires further research to understand the link. For example, research by Weidman, Barrett and Cherrett (2003) compared the ecological footprint of the Beddington Zero Energy Development in London with conventional UK housing. The results indicated a 14 per cent reduction in the footprint of BedZED homes compared to standard homes. When assumptions about key resident behaviour were factored in, this doubled to 28 per cent reduction in ecological footprint demonstrating the importance of behaviour change together with physical infrastructure responses.11 Additionally any economic activity, whether or not it contributes positively or negatively to environmental and social conditions is counted as a positive indicator for Gross State Product if it contributes to a monetary gain. Other methods of calculating ‘progress’ and valuing our natural, social and community assets are needed as an alternative to neoclassical economic approaches. In light of the global financial crisis, many current economic approaches are being re-evaluated, and this may provide us with an opportunity to establish more social and environmental forms of measuring progress. In particular Steve Keen’s presentation discussed the assumptions that have underpinned twentieth century economics. There are at least two alternative measures of progress that could be considered, the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare and the Genuine Progress Indicator. Research has indicated that both these measures have been falling since around 1980 for Australia, Austria, Chile, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden, and since approximately 1968 in the US.12 While not assuming these to be perfect, alternative progress indices recognise that economy is a subset of society, and that both are dependent on the quality of the natural environment in which they are embedded. These alternative methods of assessing progress also address the unequal distribution of resources amongst social groups in society.13

3.2.8 Indigenous participation The role of indigenous participation and acknowledgement of Aboriginal heritage was discussed by speakers at the Culture and Knowledge, Bush Capital and Economics and Administration workshops. All identified that indigenous heritage and communities were neglected in the planning system. There is little common ground between indigenous ethics of land custodianship and European notions of property ownership. However, an ethic of custodianship was emphasised by some speakers, notably Ilona Millar, David Tacey and Catherin Bull. It is noted that the Planning Institute of Australia recently launched a draft Reconciliation Action Plan. This document states: The recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s law and custom and their strong and enduring connections to Country requires planners - and the institutions for which they work - to modify contemporary planning processes to take account of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s rights, interests, needs and aspirations.14 It is suggested that this document form the basis of an ongoing discussion throughout the rest of the Sustainable future project on how to address the aspirations of indigenous people for the future of Canberra.

3.2.9 Integrated catchment approach Participants at both the water workshop and the bush capital workshop clearly supported a fully integrated catchment management approach within Canberra. This is defined as: A systems approach to the management of natural resources within a drainage basin, that includes consideration of all environmental, economic, and social issues within an overall management plan.15 Participants acknowledged that changes had been made towards a systemic approach to hydrology, for example, restoration of wetlands in the inner north suburbs. This is a philosophical approach to environmental management based on an assumption of holism and systems thinking. It suggests that the relationships between components of any system are as significant and influential as the components themselves. It is defined by the Oxford Dictionary of Geography as: A general science of organization and wholeness. Bertalanffy, the founder of the science, dated its inception from 1940, but it did not influence geographical thinking until the late 1960s. It introduced the application of the system to geography and claimed that any phenomenon cannot properly be understood until it is seen as a system of many associated parts.16

3.2.10 Unintended consequences Many current environmental problems are the side effects of well intentioned and, at the time, socially acceptable policies. Historically, the trend toward suburban development arose from mid-nineteenth century concerns about public health in overcrowded cities. Separated dwellings and centralised water supply and sewerage systems were widely supported as essential measures. Extending the notion of systems thinking, a number of presenters across the workshops presented examples of what might be called the legacy of the unintended consequence. For example, Sara Beavis discussed the interdependent relationship of water consumption and the operating life of infrastructure in light of calls for reduction in consumption. Tony Hall discussed the implications of increasing house size for energy consumption, health and social relationships. In particular, he noted that the incremental choices of many citizens for larger houses leads to lack of shade and desire for air conditioning, thus increasing out of pocket cost and higher greenhouse gas emissions. There are substantial implications for reduction in biodiversity. The backyard is a home for a wide range of species, while the increase in impervious areas increases the amount of potentially polluted runoff reaching local streams. Larger houses also reduce space for outdoor activities, discouraging physical activity and potentially setting many children up for disease in later life.

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3.2.11 People’s health and wellbeing It is well known that urban structure and form and the environment has significant impacts on mental health and physical activity. This was touched on in a number of workshops but was particularly emphasised in discussions on public transport (alternatives to private car use) and in discussions on the multiple roles of open space in the capital. It was clear though, from the Bush Capital workshop, that participants recognised promotion of physical activity through quality urban design was a priority and a key link to sustainable living. An example of this is the growing importance of community inclusion and improved physical and mental health through community gardens. The fact that increasing the number of community gardens was the highest voted recommendation out of the bush capital workshop lends weight to arguments based upon a health and wellbeing perspective. Canberra’s low density urban structure and form promotes car dependence and makes providing walkable neighbourhoods and efficient transport more difficult.

3.2.12 Social equity and access Equity was discussed primarily in the culture and knowledge and the economics and administration workshops, and they focused largely on affordability of housing. There are other ways that problems of social equity and access intertwine with other aspects of land use planning that were mentioned in workshop discussions and not discussed in depth (e.g. public transport, pricing of electricity and water, design of public space, in particular safety for women and the elderly.) Academic literature has consistently identified that marginalised members of communities bear an unfair share of environmental pollution and disadvantage. There is an opportunity to improve the transparency of planning by having a more explicit focus on the needs of different demographic groups. This was addressed at length by Peter Phibbs in his presentation, and at the risk of over generalisation, planning should aim for the benefits and disadvantages from climate change to be distributed evenly.

3.2.13 Urbanism, design and innovation The role of visual amenity was raised primarily in the bush capital workshop. However, this concentrated primarily on the importance of parks and bushland and reflects a wider community appreciation of Canberra’s landscape character. The role of public art, design and architecture in creating beautiful and thoughtful places to live was not directly raised, except for the one recommendation arising from the bush capital workshop to integrate public art into open space development. Public art, furniture and urban installations have a role in adding character and utility to urban spaces, contribute to sense of place and add vitality to neighbourhoods and our centres. The importance of improved quality and use of open space was a condition of accepting higher urban densities in established areas. Although building design and architecture were not directly addressed, many participants referred to them indirectly in terms of comments on design. Design and sustainability were understood as having the same agenda or aims. Architecture and building design have the capacity to address visual and functional amenity. Together with engineering disciplines they can also address some of the sustainability issues raised during the workshops such as increasing house size, inflexibility of building layouts, poor life cycle performance, resource inefficiency and the adaptability of our building stock. It is worth noting that homes and buildings have two functions. The first is to provide shelter and some degree of individual expression, and the second is to contribute collectively to urban structure and form, place, density and growth. The way buildings and spaces are organised determines the unity and density of a particular urban area and the quality of outside space. The way they relate to features of the natural environment, e.g. sun, wind and topography, will help to determine how well occupants relate to the outside environment. Outside spaces— the public realm— link together and also direct the circulation of people, vehicles and services. These spaces and their edges form the urban environment we all experience and are the venues of community life and activity. They provide community with a sense of place and need to be high quality, appropriately scaled, and suitable to need.

Neighbourliness was identified by Kate Rigby as a positive counterbalance to the possessive individualism that is a socio-ecological impediment to achieving greater appreciation of how we commune, commute, consume and dispose. We must strive to make urban living more attractive at every level and design has a significant role to play. With areas of greater urbanity expected and some greenfield areas currently being implemented, planners, designers and builders are struggling with ways to accommodate detached home designs onto increasingly smaller blocks. The nature of residential space and building function will need to be rethought to better respond to the future where flexibility and diversity will be sought after. Increasing mobility, homes for life, multi-use space and mixed-use buildings, long life-loose fit, reuse and adaptability will be among areas that influence housing innovation and building sustainability in the future. Designers must lead the innovations needed to achieve the dramatic changes and quality improvements necessary in our built environment.

3.2.14 Variety of environmental threats This was of particular concern in the bush capital workshop. A number of work groups raised specific threats to biodiversity that are broadly accepted as being important, for example managing weeds and fire preparedness. Most of these threats fall outside of ACTPLA’s statutory scope, except when considering greenfield development, and through the EIS process.

3.2.15 Population ACTPLA’s Chief Planning Executive, Neil Savery, gave a number of introductions at the workshops. In these he regularly mentioned that the ACT Government’s set planning horizon for population was for half a million people. Qualms were expressed by speakers and participants, about this number, especially in regard to water supply. The ACT Population Projections (CMD, 2009) project a 2056 population in the ACT of 520 800 compared to a 2006 population of 334 200. This is a downwards revision of data presented in the current

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Spatial Plan, which suggested a population of 460 000 by 2032. This potentially translates to up to 105 000 additional dwellings. Given that this is government policy, ACTPLA did not seek to open debate on it.

3.3 Thematic analysis of workshops The propositions for action generated at each workshop have been analysed and grouped according to theme. Due to the large number of propositions made, these have been tabulated and can be found in Appendix 2. The tables include which workshop or workshops the propositions came from, the implications for planning and the significance for sustainability. It should be noted that inclusion in the table does not constitute agreement with any or all of the proposed actions. Many actions crossed themes, but for ease of handling data they were generally allocated to one theme only. For example, propositions relating to individuals seeking to retrofit some aspect of their home were placed in housing and these could also logically have found a place in personal behaviour. The themes identified were:

•

strategic policy

•

housing and neighbourhoods

•

programs and exemplars

•

knowledge and education

•

personal behaviour

•

resources and pricing

•

governance and engagement

•

data and monitoring.

Any recommendation that asked for a fundamental reorientation in thinking about sustainability was categorised as strategic policy. As was pointed out at all workshops and by numerous writers in the sustainability field old ways of thinking will only recreate the same situations we now want to change. All calls for more research or data, community education or outreach, or promotion of programs, attitudes or behaviours were classified into knowledge and education. These provide the foundation data for the development of policy, strategies and Territory Plan variations. There were multiple calls across all areas for better knowledge, understanding and education about sustainability. This is perhaps under represented in the tables because of the need to consolidate ideas. Data is a critical part of the suggested ‘systems approach’ and materially affects the ability to build an adaptive planning system. In short, participants argued for a comprehensive environmental and social history of Canberra, against which a resilient future could be formed. The famous historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote that: To be a member of any human community is to situate oneself with regard to one’s past, if only by rejecting it. The past is therefore a permanent dimension of the human consciousness, an inevitable component of the institutions, values and other patterns of human society.17 The frequency of recommendations about data needed to establish baselines and measure change suggest a commitment to a better understanding of past actions and their consequences. Workshop participants did not want to reject the past outright, rather they wanted a rigorous appraisal of past behaviour to inform future policy. The housing and neighbourhoods category caters for the range of responses aimed at the smaller scale i.e. landscaping, retrofitting etc and the responses that had design as their major thrust. In contrast, programs and exemplars is conceived to be medium to large scale responses, generally with wide geographic and social coverage. In this section, the multiple recommendations about prioritising non-car transport were notable. Also notable during the analysis was the recognition of the need to have sustainability responses (from government as a whole) at a variety of scales and developed for a diversity of demographic sectors. The last four themes received fewer recommendations for action than the others. Given the broadness of the topics under discussion and the limited time available, some themes would naturally get less attention. Resources and pricing included any response relating to funding, staffing, rebates, pricing etc. Governance and engagement included any response relating to departments, politicians, elections, consultation and engagement. Data and monitoring included any response on monitoring, ratings systems, evaluation, and compliance matters. Participants were asked during the workshops to allocate their propositions to short, medium and long-term time frames. By far the greatest numbers were considered to be short term, indicating a sense of urgency and desire for change. It should be noted that participants frequently made recommendations for actions which related to the business of other government departments. These have been included as they reflect the scope of discussions, and where they fall largely outside ACTPLA’s statutory authority this has been noted.

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4.0 Implications for planning 4.1 Statutory context and constraints The workshops that supported the development of this paper were badged as providing input into the review of the Territory Plan and Spatial Plan, because this is ACTPLA’s greatest area of influence and its core business. However, participants engaged in wide-ranging debate on sustainability issues across the whole of the ACT. Again, most people do not think in terms of departments, they think in terms of issues and actions first. Bridging this gap is the purpose of this section of the report. The first constraint is pre-existing institutional arrangements. As an independent statutory authority, operating in a network of other departments servicing a democratically elected government, and working within a federal system, ACTPLA has a clearly defined role. The principal limit on ACTPLA’s action is the Planning and Development Act. Section 3.2 of the act outlines the authority’s functions. Any planning decision in Canberra must also have regard for the National Capital Plan, administered through the National Capital Authority (NCA). The NCA is established under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. The NCA website states that: the National Capital Plan is partly focused towards ‘The development of a city which both respects environmental values and reflects national concerns with the sustainability of Australia’s urban areas.18 ACTPLA’s work must not conflict with the National Capital Plan. Section 6 of the Planning and Development Act charges ACTPLA with the development of a planning strategy for the long term. The Canberra Spatial Plan and the Sustainable Transport Plan fulfil the intent of Section 6. The main object of the planning strategy is “to promote the orderly and sustainable development of the ACT, consistent with the social, environmental and economic aspirations of the people of the ACT in accordance with sound financial principles”. The Territory Plan and the Spatial Plan are legally separate documents, even though the Act says that the Spatial Plan may be used to frame the statement of objectives for the Territory Plan. The whole of Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act is devoted to the Territory Plan. According to Section 48: The object of the Territory Plan is to ensure, in a manner not inconsistent with the National Capital Plan, the planning and development of the ACT provide the people of the ACT with an attractive, safe and efficient environment in which to live, work and have their recreation. The next section specifically states that the object of the plan must be achieved through the application and expression of sustainability principles. As sustainability has been included in the Act there is considerable scope for ACTPLA to review these documents to give effect to the legislation. There are also nine government departments and related agencies, boards and commissions that carry out the business of government. All of these make a contribution to sustainability in its broadest sense, but in terms of biophysical land use and environmental matters, ACTPLA has the strongest connections with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS), Department of Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW), the Land Development Agency (LDA), and the Office of the Commissioner of Sustainability and Environment (OCSE). Each of these departments has a similar legislative and statutory constraint on its actions. However, a clear message from the workshops was the need for new and collegiate ways of working across this traditional form of governance.

Workshop participants made recommendations for actions that essentially promoted an adaptive management approach to planning decision making. While this sounds like a call for wholesale legislative change, the Planning and Development Act can facilitate a transition to an adaptive management approach. New legislation is not required. In fact, the existing Spatial Plan includes a commitment to this very principle. At this point it is important to clarify the notion of an adaptive approach to planning for sustainability. Put simplistically, an adaptive approach incorporates a commitment to defined, measurable targets of performance across a range of areas, and to review policy and procedures should the targets be missed or exceeded against a known baseline. It is a cross between Adaptive Integrated Catchment Management (usually applied to the geographic unit of the river basin), State of the Environment reporting (with its emphasis on indicators and trend tracking) and traditional land use planning. The existing Spatial Plan outlines on page 28 a commitment to an adaptive approach. This monitoring program as set up was pursued, but was eventually found to be costly, time consuming and not necessarily providing the information that was actually needed. The proposed evaluation of the Spatial Plan will assess the causes behind the failure of the monitoring framework and develop a simpler, easier and more effective system. Since the Spatial Plan was developed, there has been increasing research and development in this area, which ACTPLA has been participating in. ACTPLA commissioned a review of national and international examples of integrated sustainability assessment frameworks. As part of its partnership with CSIRO on the redevelopment of East Lake, a benchmarking study on sustainability appraisal methods for urban planning was undertaken. This study assessed the current state of ACT planning against a variety of domestic and international examples, and made a series of recommendations that echoed the messages from the workshops. This research, as well as other work, provides the initial platform for the Spatial Plan evaluation.

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4.2 Urban structure and the existing Spatial Plan Canberra’s planning history commenced with the design competition that saw Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony’s design selected. Since then there have been a number of revisions to the original concept as political and social circumstances evolved over the twentieth century. Maps of these different phases have been included in Appendix 3. The current Spatial Plan was adopted in 2004. The plan recognises the need for limiting suburban expansion, the protection of the natural environment, promotes the development of higher density housing and employment in and around centres and along transport corridors in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel use. The Spatial Plan is typical of the ‘compact city’ planning strategies adopted in major Australian cities. The Sydney the City of Cities Plan proposes that 75 per cent of all new housing should occur in centres and corridors within walking distance to shops, jobs and services. Melbourne 2030 policy requires almost 70 per cent of new households to be accommodated within existing urban boundaries. Adelaide, south east Queensland and Perth all produced plans with a similar philosophy and targets. The workshop series confirmed that the compact city concept was fundamentally sound. In proposing an evaluation of the Spatial Plan, it is not suggested that this basic tenet be changed. Rather the evaluation recognises that the challenges facing Canberra have increased. These challenges include adapting to climate change; the protection of biodiversity; ensuring the disadvantaged can enjoy the opportunities and amenity provided by the city; the coming of peak oil; the need to replace and upgrade physical and social infrastructure in established areas; the provision of infrastructure in developing areas and the ageing of the population. The evaluation will address in a more sophisticated manner the methods needed to achieve compactness, not the idea of compactness. While Canberra does indeed have problems to face, it is no different to any other city. However, its planning history gives it some advantages. The urban structure of Canberra, based on the development of major town centres, supported by group and local centres served by a frequent and convenient public transport system, is similar to that advocated by researchers such as Gray, Gleeson and Dodson as an appropriate model to address current issues facing development of Australian cities.19 Canberra’s urban structure exhibits the characteristics of a resilient city, a city hopefully able to withstand the uncertainties of climate change and declining oil supplies. The structure needs to be supported and reinforced.

4.3 Recalibrating the vision The existing Spatial Plan contains a lengthy vision statement for how Canberra should be in 2032. In the five years since the Spatial Plan was adopted, the policy context of Canberra has changed significantly. While there is nothing wrong with the existing vision statement, it does need to be brought up to date to reflect these changes. Some of the workshop discussions illustrate the changes in attitude that have occurred. Many participants said Canberra should strive to be a model for a sustainable city, certainly domestically and ideally, internationally. Will Steffen proposed a stretch goal which suggested that Canberra could position itself as a centre point in a South East Australian Innovation Corridor. This corridor would aim: …to build a network of local and regional “learning laboratories” for creative and innovative thinking, doing and learning along the Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne corridor. Use the corridor as a test-bed for new ideas, technologies, approaches and networking towards integrated solutions to Australia’s most pressing environmental, social and economic problems. The vision is to invent a new style of living for the 21st century – de-carbonise the economy; transform urban form and lifestyle; revitalise the rural sector; and regenerate biodiversity-rich, well-functioning landscapes, coasts and seascapes.

Clearly such a goal is well beyond the scope of a single Territory agency. However, ACTPLA recognises that its statutory activities have far reaching implications and could support such a broad vision. Also Steffen’s vision related to a much broader geographic area than is in within ACTPLA’s remit. However many of the elements of Steffen’s vision should be debated as part of the Spatial Plan. For example, how can planning decisions support aspirations such as:

•

de-carbonisation of the economy

•

promoting adaptivity (i.e. tied to key indicators)

•

being environmentally sensitive to its own and surrounding areas

•

reducing social bias and discrimination

•

recognising the economic potential of sustainable development

•

encouraging and supporting inventive responses to climate change

•

creating a beautiful and livable city

•

encouraging the development of community networks.

Whatever a new vision statement may contain, it does need to be a key part of the engagement process around the Spatial Plan evaluation.

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4.4 Baselines and performance targets The workshops confirm the existing commitment in the Spatial Plan to an adaptive approach. The 2004 Spatial Plan set up targets and a monitoring framework. The volume of indicators (more than 100) was found in practice to be unworkable, and while goals and objectives were set, many of these were found in practice to be unmeasurable. A major thrust from the workshops was to improve performance-based planning and this leads to methodological questions about the targets that should be set and how those targets should be selected. This also leads to considerations about establishing the baseline from which change should be measured. There are a number of complementary processes occurring which will support the evaluation of the Spatial Plan. The Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and Environment is currently undertaking a revision of its State of the Environment reporting processes. ACTPLA staff have been engaged in this process. There have been six State of the Environment reports prepared for Canberra, which provides a substantial source of data for some aspects of sustainability, which will help to establish baselines for measurement. Based on recent national and international examples of performance-based planning systems, the proposed Spatial Plan evaluation would develop a sound method for establishing a baseline and selecting targets which promote sustainable development and which are planning specific.

4.5 Developing scenarios ‘The purpose of The Canberra Spatial Plan is to provide clear strategic directions for the development of Canberra over the next 30 years and beyond, but with the flexibility required to respond to change. It is the Territory’s key strategic planning document for directing and managing urban growth and change.’20 The existing plan lists as principles: containing growth, residential intensification, locating new residential areas, protecting the natural environment, centralising employment, good travel connections, and sustainable growth. These bear strong similarities to the themes identified in the Sustainable future workshops. However, these principles were based on a scenario of development that, under the threat of increased temperatures, is probably no longer entirely appropriate. In addition to traditional planning modelling around population and residential density, we now need to factor in probable impacts from increased average temperatures and other predicted environmental effects. The latest summary of climate change research by the ANU Climate Change Institute commissioned by the Federal Government has revised projected temperatures upwards. The ACT’s Weathering the Change Strategy released in 2004 suggested a maximum possible rise of 4.8 degrees on average. This is now considered to be the medium possible rise.21 Scenario development is therefore likely to be centred on gaining a much more detailed understanding of the impacts of climate change on specific parts of the urban structure and form of Canberra. The Spatial Plan evaluation provides an opportunity to engage the community in debate about the appropriate mix of adaptation and mitigation strategies relevant to urban form that can be deployed. This work will also have wide application and relevance to the work of other agencies. A cooperative approach to information sharing will be essential.

5.0 Where to from here? ACTPLA is keen to receive feedback from everyone in the community about the contents of this paper. This feedback will help to shape the Spatial Plan evaluation process. Over the coming months, ACTPLA will work to develop the scenarios which are briefly discussed above. This will be collated into a follow-up options report. It will present the people of Canberra with a range of possibilities facing the city, and enable a broadranging discussion about which scenario is the most socially, economically and environmentally viable. Submissions on this paper are due by the end of February 2010 and should be made in writing to: Sustainable future workshop findings report submissions at GPO Box 1908, Canberra, 2601. Submissions can also be made by:



Emailing [email protected]



or via ACTPLA’s website at www.actpla.gov.act.au

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Endnotes 1 It should be noted that the National Capital Plan is the overarching, statutory land use plan for the Territory and it is administered by the National Capital Authority on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Any evaluation and review of the Canberra Spatial Plan that calls for a change in the metropolitan structure will require an amendment to the NCP. 2

Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Simon Corbell MLA, Press release, 12 May, 2009.

3

This paper delivered by Walker is available on ACTPLA’s website and explains some misconceptions in public transport route planning.

4 Possible tipping points include changes to the Gulf Stream, the loss of the Amazon rainforest or the breakup of the Greenland ice sheet. While not discussed at the workshops, in the process of developing this paper, the lack of knowledge about variable time lags between a change and a consequence was also pointed out as a problem. See Andrew S Goudie Tipping points and Global Change. Ed. David Cuff and Andrew Goudie. Oxford University Press, 2009. Oxford Reference Online. Australian National University, 17 August 2009. 5 “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”. A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation. Chris Park. Oxford University Press, 2007. Oxford Reference Online.. Australian National University. 15 September, 2009. The synthesis report of the IPCC for the fourth assessment is IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K and Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 104 pp and can be accessed on line at http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_ fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm accessed 15 September 2009. 6

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/mdg.cfm, accessed on 16 June 2009.

7

The website can be accessed at http://www.communityengagement.act.gov.au

8

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/2007actreport/resourceuse07, accessed 27 June 2009.

9

W  inston Sustainable Research Strategies, Final Report on the 2007 Sustainability Community Attitudes Study, commissioned by Sustainability Policy and Programs, Department of Territory and Municipal Services.

10

M Wackernagel and D Yount, Footprints for Sustainability; The next steps, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2, 2000, p34.

11

W  eidman,T, Barrett, J, and Cherrett, N, Sustainability Rating for Homes – The Ecological Footprint Component, Stockholm Environment Institute,York,2003.

12

http://community.foe.co.uk/community/tools/isew/international.html, accessed 19 May 2009.

13

T  he UN, for example, has agreed on integrated accounting standards for resource flows and resource productivity associated with national economic activities detailed in the Handbook of National Accounting: Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting 2003. This is a satellite system of national accounts. It brings together economic and environmental information in a common framework to measure the contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on the environment. It provides policy makers with indicators and descriptive statistics to monitor these interactions as well as a database for strategic planning and policy analysis to identify more sustainable paths of development.

14

accessed 17 June 2009.

15

“ Integrated catchment management” A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation. Chris Park. Oxford University Press, 2007. Oxford Reference Online. Australian National University. 27 July 2009

16 “General systems theory” A Dictionary of Geography. Susan Mayhew. Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Australian National University. 19 May 2009. 17 Eric Hobsbawm, On History, second edition, Abacus Books, 2002, London, p. 13 18 http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=372&Itemid=260, accessed 15 July 2009. 19 Gray R, Gleeson B, and Burke M (2008) Urban Consolidation and Household Greenhouse Emissions: Towards a Full Consumption Impacts Approach Urban Research Program Research Paper 20 November 2008; Dodson J (2008) Mitigation Adaptation and Equity, Submission to Garnaut Climate Change Review; Dodson, J and Sipe, N (2005) Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City, Urban Research Program, Research Paper 6 20 Canberra Spatial Plan, p.1 21

Will Steffen, Climate Change 2009 – Faster Change and More Serious Risks, Australian Government, Canberra, 2009.

Appendix 1 - List of speakers and workshops Workshop 1: Transport and Communication

Vanessa Morris 

Towards an accessible Canberra

-

Executive Officer, SEE-Change.

-

Life choices and the environment.

Paul Kos -

City of Wellington, New Zealand.

-

Improving sustainable cities - targeting growth to where the benefits are greatest.

Jarret Walker Ph.D, MPIA -

Senior consultant McCormick Rankin Cagney.

-

 e on the way! Urban design strategies for efficient B public transport.

Professor Graham Currie -

Chair of Public Transport, Civil Engineering, Monash University.

-

Sustainable transport and Canberra.

Professor John Black -

 chool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, S University of New South Wales.

-

Imagining Canberra’s sustainable future: movement and access.

Dr Gary Glazebrook -

School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney.

-

Sustainable transport options for the ACT.

Workshop 2: Culture and Knowledge Canberra’s community living sustainablility Associate Professor Natalie Jackson -

-

Social Demography and Director, Demographic Analytical Services Unit, School of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania. Population change and social futures.

Associate Professor David Tacey -

Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University.

-

Spirituality of place and custodianship.

Associate Professor Kate Rigby -

 erman Studies and Director of Comparative Literature G and Cultural Studies, Monash University.

-

C  ulture and environment: historical perspectives and Canberra’s future.

Workshop 3: Energy Towards a carbon neutral Canberra Dr Stephen Bygrave -

E  missions Trading Division of the Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change.

-

Carbon Pollution reduction scheme.

Dr Christopher Dey -

R  esearch physicist from the Integrated Sustainability Analysis Group at the University of Sydney’s School of Physics.

-

Canberra’s emissions profile.

Prof Will Steffen - E  xecutive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University. - C  ommunity attitudes and visions for Canberra in meeting climate change challenges. Prof Brendan Gleeson - U  rban Policy and Management and Director of the Urban Research Program at Griffith University. - Urban structure and energy use. Mr Kerry Barwise - D  irector of the Sydney office of the Centre for International Economics. - B  uilding energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission abatement: Potential and implications.

Crispin Hull -

 ecturer, Journalism, Division of Communication and L Education, University of Canberra and Journalist – Canberra Times.

-

Community influence on governance.

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Workshop 4 : Water and Infrastructure

Professor Tony Hall

Securing the city

- A  djunct Professor, Urban Research Program, Griffith University.

Professor Quentin Grafton

- T  he death of the Australian backyard - A lesson for Canberra.

- C  rawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University.

Dr Jane Tarran

- M  anaging residential water demand and supply: an alternative approach.

- Program Director, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology Sydney.

Dr Gary Bickford

- Improving Canberra’s sustainability: why urban tree canopy and other vegetation matters.

- P  roject Director, Water Security Major Projects, ACTEW Corporation. James Rosenwax

Workshop 6: Economics and Administration for Sustainability

- Principal, EDAW.

Valuing and administering

- Water colours the remaking of cities.

Associate Professor Steve Keen

Dr Sara Beavis

- School of Economics and Finance, UWS.

- The Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU.

- The GFC and neoclassical economics.

- Water, change and sustainability.

Dr Peter Phibbs

Dr Jessica Weir

- U  rban Research Centre, College of Health and Science, UWS.

- Water - securing the city.

- V  isiting research fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. - O  ur understandings of water and how they translate in our decision making.

Workshop 5: Bush Capital Our city in the landscape Dr David Headon

- Sustaining affordable housing. Ilona Millar - B  aker and McKenzie - Environmental Advisory, Environmental Litigation, Climate Change. - T  he environmental law framework for sustainable development – principles of sustainable development in International, national and local laws.

- A  dvisor to Canberra 100, Chief Minister’s Department, ACT Government.

Molly Harriss Olson

- R  ecalling those who went before: Canberra’s earliest environmental warriors.

- Bringing the global financial crisis down to Earth.

Dr Catherin Bull

- D  irector Walsh Consulting – Town Planning, Public Policy, Management Planning.

- P  rofessor of Landscape Architecture, University of Melbourne. - F  rom “our city in the landscape” to “our city as landscape” -  creating value for Canberra’s open space system. Dr Phil Cheney - Honorary Fellow of CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. - Bush capital - our city in a flammable landscape.

- Director of Eco Futures Pty Ltd. Peter Walsh

- W  hat happens next in the ACT? Discussion points on statutory, administration implementation issues. All papers are available on the ACTPLA website www.actpla.act.gov.au

Appendix 2 Workshop tables Short term 2–3 years — strategic policy Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Review section 2 (strategic directions) of the Territory Plan to:

The Spatial Plan (and the Sustainable Transport Plan) sets out the Planning Strategy for Canberra. It is proposed as part of the Sustainable future program to evaluate the Spatial Plan.

Canberra’s overall urban structure and form is recognised internationally because of its integration with the landscape. This proposition emphasises how this integration with landscape has influenced how the community relates to place and to nature.

• reflect broad community aspirations for Canberra to be a model for sustainable urban development in Australia • retain the Bush Capital as the key image for Canberra through goals that protect endangered habitats • strengthen the commitment to integrated water catchment management, including recognising the different values and purposes of water.

All

Threshold measures for change need to be debated and set collectively, including a definition of carbon neutrality, population growth and development densities appropriate for Canberra. These measures should be common across ACT Government policy to give greater continuity and coordination. The Territory Plan should take into account these threshold measures in order to evaluate the relative merits/success of the application of various policies.

The Canberra Community clearly values the relationship with place and with nature and wants to ensure that nature is managed and integrated into our urban system.

Spatial/built form planning policies will need to address the significance of place and nature.

The community’s aspirations in regard to place and nature will be significant to evaluating and testing scenarios, however, to effectively do this it will be important to translate these aspirations into measurable targets.

ACT Government policies are informed by thresholds and measures set out in the Canberra Plan and the government’s sustainability policy Weathering the Change. Through an evaluation of the Spatial Plan there is an opportunity to refine the targets and strategies that can be delivered through planning.

Building in targets and triggers to planning strategies will provide not only more effective monitoring of outcomes but more importantly facilitate adaptive planning and development responses.

Clearer, more relevant targets could subsequently be incorporated into the ACT Planning Strategy providing key performance measures for the monitoring of Territory Plan policy outcomes.

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28

Short term 2–3 years — strategic policy continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Renew the commitment to reducing urban sprawl. This should be combined with setting measurable density targets against which planning policies are assessed. When a target is missed there should be a trigger to review the policy and approach.

As above. The evaluation of the Spatial Plan will provide the opportunity to identify relevant targets.

Reducing Canberra’s physical footprint will ameliorate the impact on the local, regional and global environment.

Identifying the balance between greenfield and infill development will also influence ACT Budget planning i.e. utility infrastructure development and/ or augmentation, provision and distribution of social services, revenue projections etc.

Currently the ACT emits approximately 4.45 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year (ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007–2025).

ACTPLA should aim to be the planning agency that others in Australia look to regarding the lead in spatial and built form policy.

ACTPLA is working on a number of benchmark projects and is fostering partnerships with lead research agencies, including the CSIRO.

Building Canberra’s recognition as a sustainable city supports the ACT Government objective to improve prosperity.

All

Embedding sustainability performance measures into the ACT Planning Strategy would assist the agency in moving to leading practice.

Economics and Administration

More clarity in the roles and responsibilities of the various ACT Government agencies in regard to developing policy measures around improving sustainability is required.

There is publicly available information as to what each agency is responsible for and there are regular coordination meetings. There is perhaps a need to give a greater profile to how sustainability policies are coordinated, monitored and measured.

The issues around improving sustainability are interrelated. There will always be cross over in responsibilities, however, this proposition reflects the importance of ensuring there is effective collaboration between agencies.

Short term 2–3 years — housing and neighbourhoods Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy, Water and Culture

Objectives for all the residential zones should be reviewed with, common elements consolidated and initially both minimum and maximum targets identified for density and subsequently for waste, energy and water management.

ACTPLA is currently reviewing the structure and policy content of the residential and subdivision codes.

Policy changes to be incorporated into the residential and subdivision codes will ameliorate the impact at residential development.

The pattern and distribution of housing forms and density will be considered in regard to how this supports public transport objectives and the location of services. The setting of overall targets may be more appropriately addressed through the evaluation of the Spatial Plan.

Culture and Economics

Culture and Economics

All residential zones should include in the objectives the goal of increasing housing diversity. Specific rules/criteria should ensure that this is implemented as development progresses.

In reviewing and simplifying the structure of the residential codes the goal to provide diversity in housing choice can be brought forward and emphasised.

All housing should be adaptable with developers having to demonstrate where this has to be an exception.

The concept of adaptability is currently limited to allowing people with disabilities to make changes to their homes efficiently. The proposition broadens the concept of adaptability to address long lifeloose fit in all housing. Increasing the flexibility of homes, buildings and spaces though structural, spatial and organisational means allows internal and external changes to be undertaken easily over time, reducing redundancy. 

Diversity in the spatial and built form is necessary in order to respond to Canberra’s changing demographic.

Performance measures for the provision of a variety of housing forms and unit types need to be considered in the subdivision and residential codes. This will require consultation with industry as to how this can be effectively delivered. Increasing the adaptability of the overall building stock would allow for more people to stay in their homes and alter them as their lifestyle and circumstances change. This could have a flow on affect in building a more diverse community in neighbourhoods.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years - housing and neighbourhoods continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture and Economics

Investigate barriers to the use and development of alternative housing models e.g. community lands trusts and cooperative housing.

Greater research and stakeholder engagement is required to identify the planning, administrative and market barriers.

Improving diversity, not only in the housing form but in the economic model by which it is delivered, will contribute to housing affordability and market resilience.

Culture and Economics

Improve housing affordability by continuing to address improvements in assessment processes and the land supply which should include identifying disused buildings and surplus land in existing urban areas.

ACTPLA has simplified the planning system and development assessment processes. It is currently reviewing the residential and subdivision codes which will lead to improvements in assessment.

Housing affordability across Canberra and not only in greenfield sites can be improved.

Similarly infill sites continue to be identified in the land supply program to balance the overall supply and demand as well as the expansion of greenfield areas. All

Explore the potential to extend the mixed-use zone geographically and review the permitted uses in residential zones to expand allowable uses.

This proposition is more appropriately considered through the evaluation of the Spatial Plan as it would dramatically change not only the urban form but business and industry investment models.

Expanding allowable uses can provide more opportunities to live close to work and reduce the impact of extensive and lengthy car travel.

Transport, Energy and Culture

Review multi-unit dwelling code to allow, where feasible, space in each dwelling for cycle storage, in addition to the existing storage provisions as large shared bike cages are not necessarily appropriate for security reasons.

The multi-unit housing code refers to the bicycle parking general code which allows for either class 1 or class 2 enclosures for apartments. The implications for unit deign and costs need to be explored with industry.

Promoting cycling will help to achieve or surpass the targets set out in the Sustainable Transport plan and will have benefits regarding the overall health and well-being of the community.

Energy and Bush Capital

Revise the plot ratio provisions in the multi-unit code to ensure that there is sufficient space for trees to aid in microclimate management and add to the amenity and character of the Bush Capital.

This has broader implications for all styles of development, although higher density areas may experience greater temperatures if left unaddressed.

Reducing or ameliorating the effect of radiant heat produced by urban areas will reduce the need for artificial, energy consuming cooling.

There is also a need to simultaneously consider shading in relation to solar access needs.

Short term 2–3 years — housing and neighbourhoods continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture and Bush Capital

Subdivision development should approach the creation and/or retention of public spaces as an opportunity to develop the sense of community.

Open spaces provide demonstrated social, economic and ecological benefits. Planning instruments can take account of this by implementing measures to ensure accessibility to open space.

Positive relationships and good general health in the public has a long term beneficial outcome of reducing expenditure on health and welfare.

Water and Bush Capital

Review existing policies on use of public lands to make the creation of local community gardens in established areas easier.

Management and design of community gardens would need to be established. Location and site characteristics may also mean that public land is not appropriate.

Community gardens can reduce reliance of imported foods, and should be considered as one element of sustainability policy in general.

Water and Bush Capital

Consider the development of guidelines for community gardens on location, safety etc. for greenfield and brownfield sites.

Guidelines for location and design can be developed, however, there also needs to be further consideration given to the management and financial cost structures in developing these community gardens.

The success of community gardens would be enhanced if they are sited in appropriate locations and designed appropriately.

Existing community garden managers to be active participants in developing these guidelines.

Culture and Bush Capital

Retain undeveloped bushland for a) ecological connectivity and b) provision for unstructured play for children.

Existing gardens will provide a good source of information on a wide range of location and operational issues. Research and modelling is necessary to provide credible quantification or areas for retention. This can be addressed as a factor during scenario modelling for the spatial plan reevaluation.

Part a) of the proposition is related to maintaining biodiversity values for the future while part b) can be viewed as a preventative mental health measure.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years — housing and neighbourhoods continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture, Energy and Bush Capital

Link higher density areas with green space to address microclimate issues (i.e. urban heat bank) and support better public health.

The current subdivision code does have a provision for the siting of more compact, higher density blocks near open space and community services.

Consider developing a ratio between density and green space for incorporation into the territory plan codes.

Further investigation is warranted to identify how green space can ameliorate the micro-climate for higher density areas. The microclimatic effect of the green space is unlikely to be guided only by a simple ratio. Location as well as the building intensity will be significant factors.

Reducing the effect of the urban heat bank and the corresponding reliance on mechanical means to cool buildings could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Canberra’s building stock.

Incorporating additional green space for micro-climate will need to be considered against other potentially conflicting and competing sustainability/ affordability measures. Bush Capital

Water

When assessing applications for redevelopment in older areas of Canberra, consider the need to balance retention of traditional domestic landscapes with the need to reduce water use. It is important to retain the layering of historical and social values evident in the older areas of Canberra.

ACTPLA produced design guidelines for redevelopment in established areas to improve site development and landscape outcomes.

Pool owners should be required to connect the downpipes that are unable to be connected to tanks, into their pools.

ACTPLA can support owners who wish to improve the water use efficiency through provision of information about appropriate residential design. Building health approvals are the main influence.

This recognises the delicate interplay between respecting the Canberra historical narrative and the rate of change that is likely in the next few decades.

ACTPLA consults with the Heritage Council on heritage buildings. Any proposed densification will give due consideration to issues of character, style and amenity in the wider area. This proposition reflects a desire for multipurpose use of water. Reducing water consumption is a priority.

Short term 2–3 years - programs, exemplars Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture and Bush Capital

Throughout existing and proposed urban areas, audit the existing provision of fitness tracks and supportive facilities, including integrated play equipment (early through to adventure).

TaMS is responsible for existing areas.

Providing diverse open space recreational options appropriate for different ages and abilities contributes to long-term public health aspirations.

Culture and Bush Capital

All new development should consider during the planning phase the appropriate mix of recreational opportunities which can include bike paths, walk trails, community gardens, pet exercise areas, playgrounds catering for different age groups, open air fitness equipment, and a range of open space types from natural bush to formal gardens.

ACTPLA is currently reviewing the subdivision code which can address the intent of this proposition. It is important to recognise that not all types of desirable facilities can be accommodated in each new area.

The proposition reflects the discussion at the workshop about recognising and planning for diversity in the community.

Water and Bush Capital

Cooperate in the development of new walking strategies which may include improved pet walking facilities, pedestrian seating and shelter along walking routes, improved footpaths in local streets and visual appeal (public artwork, city vistas etc).

TaMS is currently producing a new cycling and walking strategy to inform the renewal and updating of relevant ACT cycling and walking policies. TaMS is also currently consulting publicly on its Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP) that will increase the use of alternative transport modes.

ACTPLA’s planning assessment which incorporates accessibility principles is the precursor step to the development of strategies which attempt to influence behaviour change.

Energy, Water and Bush Capital

Set aside centrally located lands in new subdivisions to provide sites that could be used in the future for green power generation or water recirculation.

ACTPLA recognises that there are many options for the redesign of essential infrastructure. The Spatial Plan evaluation offers an opportunity to test these in relation to different emissions targets and to other aspects of urban design.

Reductions in consumption are essential to slow the trajectory of CO2 levels and minimise consumption of potable water.

ACTPLA has responsibility for new areas through the subdivision code which requires an open space network and associated facilities.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years - programs, exemplars continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Contribute to the development of the ACT Government proposed energy policy, with particular reference to the contribution of built form.

ACTPLA is already engaged in this through participation in the relevant interdepartmental committees and provision of supporting data.

The energy policy will have a significant impact on a wide range of government strategies.

Culture, Water, Bush Capital and Economics

Assess greenfield, brownfield and infill development for ways in which stormwater management can be integrated to perform various functions.

Stormwater management is governed by a range of standards which aim to protect public and environmental health. Where performing multiple functions doesn’t endanger standards, the subdivision code can be the avenue for this proposition.

This proposition highlights the importance of water and to recognise the value of the water cycle and system to establishing a sense of place.

Transport, Energy and Economics

Consider how to plan for and implement more intensive development around selected high frequency bus routes.

TaMS is reviewing the Sustainable Transport Plan and is currently consulting on the high frequency bus routes to improve bus services. See Appendix 3 for an indicative map.

The intent is to prioritise non-car transport by providing housing in walking distance of high frequency routes.

It will be important to consider opportunities for infill development along these routes. Transport, Energy and Economics

Manage the amount of car parking in civic and town centres, and review parking charges.

TaMS is currently doing this.

Water and Bush Capital

Retention and management of endangered habitats in new developments should be a priority.

It is noted that review of legislation relating to conservation of species is underway through TaMS.

Parking must be managed as part of an integrated view of mobility as a whole. Traffic planning, public transport options and pricing all contributes to reducing the reliance of private vehicles for transport.

ACTPLA, through structure and concept planning endeavours to retain and protect all endangered habitats.

Improve the walkability and pedestrian amenity of our Town centres.

Maintaining high levels of biodiversity supports the ongoing viability of ecosystems, and provides the greatest ‘insurance’ for the future.

Short term 2–3 years - programs, exemplars continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy, Water and Bush Capital

Support ACT schools to retrofit as much as possible, e.g. can oval irrigation be achieved from captured rainwater? Food gardens? Solar power?

A number of schools already have sustainable programs. ACTPLA has supported further work by cooperating with Federal Government Stimulus package spending.

ACTPLA also has an education program which is delivered through its communications program.

On May 8 2009, Minister for the environment Simon Corbell announced the construction of detention ponds in Dickson and Lyneham to provide irrigation water. Energy and Bush Capital

Continue to use Dame Pattie Menzies House as a pilot for sustainability retrofitting and innovative design responses.

ACTPLA has made substantial progress thus far in reducing energy and water consumption. ACT government departments are required to manage their own footprint.

To lead by example, promote innovation and encourage other departments to follow suit.

Short term 2–3 years - knowledge and education Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy and Water

Adapt other cities work in retrofitting to improve sustainability, while ensuring that what we adapt will fit with Canberra’s demographics and environment.

Wide knowledge of international best practice can contribute towards urban structure modelling proposed under the Spatial Plan re-evaluation.

This proposition recognises that ACTPLA can take advantage of international examples and not reinvent the wheel.

Energy and Water

Support research on the better quantification of the relationship between energy use and water, i.e. it takes energy to pump water and contributes to green house gas emissions.

Information on energy and water use is available but has not been correlated.

Understanding the link between water use and energy is significant to making decisions on where trade-off may best be made.

With regard to grey water, support research which addresses re-use at various scales and what impact there is on the life of the existing infrastructure as well as more general downstream impacts.

Some information is currently being collected and considered by industry. It is necessary to extend the research and incorporate this into policy development and into the asset management/life-cycle plans of the relevant infrastructure.

Water

Investigations as to how this information can be correlated will be undertaken.

Innovation in water re-use can be encouraged without adversely affecting the water system.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years — knowledge and education continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water, Culture and Bush Capital

When involved in setting design parameters for landscape projects, include the appropriate xeriscaping (designing landscapes that use little water) of public reserves.

ACTPLA has previously produced information on more fire and water wise landscape design and planting for residential gardens.

Designing public landscapes that are more suited to the low rainfall conditions in Canberra will inevitably lead to a transformation in Canberra’s landscape character. While this will reduce the requirement for supplementary watering it will also require a transformation in the community’s use and appreciation of the landscape.

TaMS also includes in its design briefs for public spaces objectives pertaining to management and water efficient measures. Greater emphasis could be given to xeriscape design and management programs. This would, however, also require raising the community’s awareness of this approach and understanding the resulting design solutions.

Culture and Bush Capital

Promote the awareness, appreciation and sense of ownership of local flora and fauna as an integral part of our natural open space network.

In preparing structure and concept plans for greenfield areas, ACTPLA does address and set aside those areas of environmental significance.

This could enhance the community’s understanding and appreciation of the particular ecosystems in the Bush Capital.

Further consideration could be given to siting demonstration housing close to these natural areas in order to establish early on a community that will value these places. Culture and Bush Capital

Culture and Bush Capital

Better promotion of the way ACTPLA uses the geographic names as a way to increase knowledge of Canberra’s heritage.

There is general information on the ACTPLA website.

Historical and ethnographic research findings should be incorporated where appropriate into interpretation and art works in public space, with a particular emphasis on indigenous artists.

This proposition could be incorporated into existing arts and interpretation programs.

Consideration could be given to providing people moving to new estates with information on the naming of the new suburb and streets.

The development of community spirit is proven to be enhanced when people have an association with a place and an appreciation of its heritage.

Incorporating material that helps to create a particular character also helps to build people’s engagement with place and the local community.

Short term 2–3 years — knowledge and education continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Continued promotion of innovative and sustainable housing.

The Land Development Agency is using their own demonstration villages to highlight some more sustainable housing choices.

To improve people’s understanding of what can be offered and achieved it is important to make it easy for people to find and look at good examples.

Further consideration is warranted as to how exemplars can be developed and promoted across all housing forms, including units and apartments. Energy and Water

Better promotion of existing information produced by ACTPLA on sustainable housing choices and products.

These publications, notably ‘Building better homes for Canberra’s climate’ (June 2008) were popular and consideration should be given to reprinting them and also including pricing information towards sustainability.

Improving the consumer’s understanding can lead to a more sustainable product being demanded.

Short term 2–3 years - personal behaviour Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy

Review the Element 7.3 of the multi-unit dwelling code regarding clothes lines. Consider expanding provisions to reduce use of electric clothes dryers.

The residential codes are being reviewed by ACTPLA. In reviewing this element some further consideration will need to be given to the design and convenience of clothes lines.

People must have a convenient and appropriate alternative to electric clothes dryers to support behaviour change.

Energy and Bush Capital

Provide communal space in multi-unit dwellings for gardens so that residents can grow some of their own food and ultimately reduce food miles.

Communal space is to be provided in multi-unit development.

The real benefit is more likely to be in developing greater selfsufficiency and a more cohesive community.

It may be appropriate to encourage a different site design and development response which will allow residents to use this space for vegetable/ food production and which will address water use, storage of materials etc. Consideration as to how residents can be encouraged to make use of the space as well as the management of the production would need to be addressed through the Body Corporate.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years — personal behaviour continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy and Water

Use price of water and energy to affect behaviour change by ensuring that all new residences have meters that provide real time consumption data.

Explore further separate metering and smart metering with ACTEW.

It is important for residents to be able to monitor and track their personal efforts at reducing consumption.

Trial a car pooling system for ACTPLA staff and, if successful extend to other businesses in Dickson.

Raise suggestion through the Staff Representative Group to consider implementing for ACTPLA.

Transport and Energy

Without the provision of separate metering for units it is impossible to send price signals to individuals about water and energy use.

The significance of this is in the demonstration of empowering people to be able to make behaviour changes.

Potential to extend through the Dickson Traders Group.

Short term 2–3 years - resources and pricing Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water, Bush Capital and Economics

In cooperation with other departments, investigate a range of incentives which encourage a wide range of sustainable behaviour, i.e. reward water use reduction with a cheaper per litre price, or voluntary work in bushland is credited towards rates.

Difficult to apply in the short term as requires a better understanding of how this would affect budget – revenues and expenditures.

There is a price or reward differentiation made between less and more sustainable behaviours. Further, more sustainable behaviour is rewarded across a spectrum of activities and programs.

Energy and Economics

Incentives to produce all types of buildings that perform more energy efficiently than is regulated could lead to industry voluntarily designing buildings with higher energy ratings than that stipulated by legislation and policy. Incentives to entice more energy efficient designs could include:

ACTPLA is currently developing a framework for how incentives can be most effectively applied to encourage the upgrade of commercial office buildings.

To affect a greater rate of change it is important to acknowledge and reward exemplary sustainable design and development. Continuous improvement can be encouraged as each time a benchmark is attained the performance target for incentives is raised.

• savings on stamp duty • reduced bank interest rates • rates subsidies • rebates • tax incentives.

Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the incentives is included. If successful then consideration should be given to continuing and/or adapting the program. There would be a need to identify what the benchmark is for reward through such incentives. These should be set fairly high and ratchet up as performance improves.

Short term 2–3 years — resources and pricing continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy and Economics

Tie first home owners grant schemes and other home buying incentives to the most energy efficient homes.

The ACT can only affect its own home purchase programs.

Home buyers would be investing in a better whole of life product and a more cost effective residence to maintain.

Promote the use of cycle and pedestrian routes by highlighting potential savings (monetary and environment).

As part of the Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP), TaMS is investing in several programs to encourage cycling and walking including the improvement of infrastructure.

Transport

Need to work with the housing industry to address where costs are in producing more energy efficient housing.

Encouraging behaviour change by increasing the awareness of what the health, environmental and fiscal costs are to the community.

Short term 2–3 years — governance and engagement Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

A shared sustainable planning vision is developed with the public. This vision should set out detailed long-term, mid-term and short-term goals, strategies, programs and projects.

The Spatial Plan was the first strategic plan to be developed since self-government. This set a strategic direction for policy and development strategies. An evaluation of the targets and strategies is now timely.

There is an opportunity to renew the relevance of the Spatial Plan.

The series of workshops on sustainability and this discussion paper are the commencement of greater stakeholder and public engagement in evaluating the Spatial Plan. All

Increase public participation (PP) in planning by developing a general code for PP in sustainable planning. This code should represent a process manual on how to identify, mobilise and engage with various stakeholder groups and the community on different planning stages (structure and concept plan, EDP, building application) and how to define sustainability principles and innovations.

The Chief Minister’s Department has recognised the need for better public participatory practices and are working with agencies to improve practises, not only in planning but across government.

Greater participation in the planning process will help build community ownership of the strategies.

Planning is about trade-offs and compromises. This needs to be stressed in the engagement processes as not everyone’s expectations can be realised.

Workshop findings report

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Short term 2–3 years — governance and engagement continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Develop a culture of exchange with other cities and councils in Australia and overseas via invitations to workshops and learning trips. Consider teleconferencing and phone conferencing to reduce carbon footprints and increase ease and frequency of information exchange.

Learning partnerships are valued. ACTPLA is currently working with CSIRO to develop a showcase sustainable development at East Lake. This partnership has led to workshops and learning trips.

Reflecting on and formalising the learning from other jurisdictions will allow the ACT to more readily adopt changes.

Creation of interdisciplinary teams.

ACTPLA already employs a broad range of planning and design skills.

Greater depth and breadth in the working teams ensures a more integrated approach.

All

ACTPLA to employ environmental and social planners to add value to the skills in the team.

There is a need to document and disseminate the insight.

All

Develop dialogue with the development industry on how to deliver sustainability innovations.

There are a number of forums for dialogue between government and industry. These could be used to expand into key issues on sustainability.

Will assist in identifying and breaking down barriers to changing development practises.

All

Engage with SEEchange and other similar groups to foster partnership with environmentally focused community groups.

It is important to engage with these groups and others who will also bring an interest on affordable, accessible housing and services.

Community input and support is focused on the issues of sustainability.

All

Set up sustainability dialogues with the community to:

The ACT Government engages with the community at various times in preparing policy. Setting up dialogues which the community ultimately sponsors is a key action for the Chief Minister’s Department.

Engagement by doing is the most valuable in raising awareness.

• identify people’s attitudes and needs • educate people by engagement • communicate planning intentions • foster community festivals and events on sustainability.

Short term 2–3 years — governance and engagement continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture and Bush Capital

Develop community partnerships for the use and promotion of public land for community activity, which may include development and maintenance of a range of community facilities.

There may be a liability issue in handing over public reserves to community groups for management. Consideration could be given to developing management agreements.

Involves the community directly in the responsibility of managing the public spaces.

At the outset it would be resource intensive to set up and assist these partnerships.

Short term 2–3 years — data and monitoring Workshop

Proposition

Implications/Action

Significance

All

Acquire longitudinal data on a wide range of measures, especially energy consumption, transport, land take, sociodemographics, social infrastructure.

Review data sets to identify where there are gaps.

Identifying the baseline is vital to be able to monitor performance.

Bush Capital

Ecological connectivity to be mapped using the most up to date methods and set up so it can be accessed by all agencies and the community.

This has staff and financial resource implications. Introducing this needs to be assessed against other priorities.

Better understanding of the ecosystem and biodiversity across the ACT.

Transport

Support the need for travel data to be regularly updated.

Again this has resource implications in regard to the regular collection of data. It is, however, important to inform policy development and consideration should be given to how this data can be effectively collected.

Facilitate better integration of land use and transport planning.

Medium term 5–10 years — strategic policy Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy and Water

Consider how preferential treatment can be given to those development applications which go beyond minimum standards i.e. a ‘green door’ approach to assessment.

Development assessment process is already streamlined and there are statutory requirements and time frames to be met. In determining those that should have a preferred status it would be necessary to identify the thresholds.

Planning policy, rather than assessment, should encourage more sustainable development.

Workshop findings report

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Medium term 5–10 years — strategic policy continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Economics

Cooperate with National Capital Authority (NCA) to ensure compatibility in sustainability objectives for the different key strategic plans.

Both federal and local government planning organisations regularly coordinate in relation to strategic planning.

Fostering continued cooperation and coordination between federal and local government agencies ensures a united approach to sustainability.

Further increasing this relationship will reinforce compatible sustainability objectives and identify any potentially outdated strategic plans i.e. Metropolitan Structure Plan. Culture and Transport

Use the results of recently commissioned research by ACTPLA on social aspects of sustainability to improve residential design/transport planning.

ACTPLA is currently using the research to help inform review of the structure of the residential and subdivision codes.

Sense of community and participation in community is improved.

Economics

Review the objects of commercial and industrial codes and group common elements together in terms of sustainability.

ACTPLA will review the commercial and industrial codes after reviewing residential codes.

Facilitate eco and smart industry.

Energy

Identify sites in existing areas that are suitable for redevelopment and prioritise them before greenfield. Consider adapting method outlined by Mr Paul Kos (Wellington, NZ) at the transport workshop to achieve this. Also through interagency work on land release.

Important to identify both greenfield and infill development sites to achieve Spatial Plan objectives. As part of the Sustainable future program it is proposed to evaluate the Spatial Plan and opportunities to achieve a more compact city.

To give impetus to public transport and support goals for a compact urban structure and form.

Transport and Energy

Review objectives of the transport zone to make non-car based transport options the principal focus. New objectives to guide creation of new rules and criteria.

A long transition time to achieve a shift in transport modes will be necessary.

Reduce green house gas emissions from cars and achieve the goal of zero carbon by 2050.

Review the industrial codes to facilitate the attraction of ecoindustrial clusters.

Consideration should be given to planning for industrial clustering to achieve more sustainable development and waste streaming in estates.

Economics

Consider the potential impact of the Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP). Facilitates the creation of a ‘green economy’; noting the work undertaken by the Green Centre of ANU exchange.

Medium term 5–10 years — strategic policy continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy, Transport, Culture and Knowledge

Review and reinforce existing cycle and pedestrian strategies to build on strengths and to provide additional support mechanisms including safe and convenient storage and amenity facilities including for the aged with scooters.

TaMS is reviewing actions and strategies in the Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP) including those promoting walking and cycling.

Maintain well connected walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity and well being when travelling to a variety of local destinations.

All

Reconsider the objectives in the Transport Zone, as currently they appear to prioritise car-based transport. New objectives need to take into consideration needs of different demographic groups.

Unlikely, though consider the potential impact of STAP.

Provide guidance for code development. Facilitate cycle and pedestrian networks.

Transport and Energy

Reinterpretation of the Y-plan, transportation spines as corridors for intensification, smart growth and transitorientated development.

Potential conflicts with Spatial Plan policy.

Achieve better integration of land development with transport.

Consider the potential impact of STAP.

Medium term 5–10 years — housing and neighbourhoods Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy, Culture, Water and Bush Capital

Include as many sustainability criteria into code as possible, and make them rules, not criteria.

ACTPLA is currently reviewing the structure and policy content of the residential and subdivision codes. This also aims to improve sustainability requirements.

It should be recognised that the effect additional Territory Plan controls will have on the reduction of CO2 levels and water consumption may be minor, however it is an important part of the total community approach to the problem.

Energy

Contribute to current government initiatives to progress legislation to mandate solar hot water systems to all dwellings.

Consideration of adopting the Commonwealth’s National Hot Water Strategy is required. A full analysis of costs and benefits is also required.

While electric hot water heaters are efficient, they are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Solar hot water systems are one alternative to reduce these emissions.

Energy

Assessment/design advice to consider that all new buildings of any class should have roof sufficient area to face north to facilitate photovoltaics.

Providing design advice is a preferable alternative to adopting this as a rule, which may suppress design innovation. Note that roofs do not necessarily need to face north to enable optimum orientation of photovoltaics.

Encouraging opportunity for photovoltaics and solar hot water heaters will reduce green house gases from energy consumption.

Workshop findings report

44

Medium term 5–10 years — housing and neighbourhoods continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water and Bush Capital

Subdivision design should conceptualise water in the landscape as opportunities to establish wetland communities, in addition to performing water management functions. Existing ponds and water bodies to be planted where appropriate with native species.

Consider modification to both the Water Sensitive Urban Design General Code and the Subdivision Code. Planting around existing wetlands is a responsibility of TaMS, however there is opportunity to work with TaMS and community groups to encourage appropriate planting.

Enhancing the use of stormwater provides an opportunity for improved water quality and a water source for public plantings. Creation of urban wetlands re-establishes eco systems and provides community focus.

Water and Bush Capital

Standards for higher density residential to include consideration of bush capital image, water permeability, planting space and communal areas.

Policy provisions are being reviewed in the residential codes of the Territory Plan. The implications for design and costs need to be explored with industry.

Higher density areas must retain the character of Canberra. Part of this character is the extent and type of landscaping. Welldesigned communal areas contribute to the establishment of communities.

Bush Capital

Investigate the optimal ratio of private open space versus public open space, especially in relation to areas identified for higher density residential development.

It is important to provide for long-term public open space demands in areas identified for higher density residential. Post-occupancy evaluation could determine requirements; however this has a cost implication.

Establishing an optimum ratio may lead to more economical developments and better designed public open space areas.

Transport, Energy, Culture and Knowledge

Review home-based business rules to encourage flexibility.

May impact on the amenity of adjacent dwellings, particularly from noise and parking. Requires assessment of the type and number of businesses to retain a reasonable level of amenity.

Relaxing restrictions could encourage more people to work from home, reducing car use. This will increase activity and surveillance in dormitory suburbs during work hours.

Medium term 5–10 years — programs and exemplars Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water

Support the development of green infrastructure by:

Triple bottom line accounting is required in all budget proposals. This could be extended and introduced into asset and program management strategies across government.

The progressive rollout of renewed, more effective and sustainable infrastructure will help to reduce the overall cost burden on the community.

• preparing the cost/benefit analysis that takes into account the whole of life and environment costs • research and communication • incorporating it not just in new development but also in redevelopment.

Investment is required in ‘mapping’ to be able to coordinate and integrate asset renewal with development and redevelopment.

Medium term 5–10 years—programs and exemplars continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Economics

Review the industrial codes to facilitate the attraction of ecoindustrial clusters.

ACTPLA will be progressively reviewing the policy content of all the Territory Plan codes.

Canberra has a limited industrial base and attracting eco and smart industries will diversify the economic base.

Attracting eco and smart industries is a government priority. Attracting these ecoindustries may require more incentive than clustering and include developing the demand. Energy, Transport, Culture and Knowledge

Identify an exemplar for the frequent bus network and zone for higher densities and a mix of uses along this corridor.

It is important to integrate transport and land planning strategies. Investigation of a demonstration route and high density area could be investigated further in conjunction with a strategic infill development site.

Demonstrates the effectiveness of public transport as an alternative to the car as well as reducing the need for residents to commute long distances to access services and employment.

Energy, Transport, Culture and Knowledge

Review and reinforce existing policies for shared zones in the town centres and along major transport routes that recognise and place importance on the cyclist, scooters and pedestrians.

TaMS is currently reviewing policies and the rollout of infrastructure to support walking and cycling.

Town centres and commuter routes are pedestrian friendly, and due weight is given to promoting walking.

Showcase existing commercial buildings in the ACT that achieve desirable energy efficiency i.e. Trevor Pearcey House (Traeger Court Bruce, ACT).

Showcasing and promoting the more sustainable commercial buildings could be linked into the work ACTPLA is currently developing on incentives for upgrading commercial buildings.

Energy

The progressive incorporation of shared use zones should be considered in this work.

Acknowledging and promoting exemplary sustainable design and development is important to improving people’s understanding and demand for a better product.

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Medium term 5–10 years — knowledge and education Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Energy

Train selected ACTPLA staff in energy efficiency requirements (for both commercial and residential) and provide free of charge pre-lodgement service for applicants to assist with improving energy efficiency of design or ensuring compliance with energy efficiency requirements in codes. If financially unfeasible, an alternative model is Brisbane City Council “Risk Smart” which trains consultants who then can then advertise this as part of their service.

ACTPLA currently has a free verbal pre-application service that provides initial advice on preliminary designs (usually by an architect or landscape architect). These forums provide an opportunity for ACTPLA staff to ‘value add’ however it is at the discretion of the proponent as to whether they accept the advice.

To provide feedback early in the design process.

All

Work with other agencies who currently deliver home audit services across sectors to develop an integrated service which combines design, water, energy, and landscaping for sustainability.

Home audit services are currently provided by both the Commonwealth and ACT Governments. ACTPLA to coordinate with other agencies to ensure the advice and knowledge of programs is consistent.

Coordination of effort and knowledge across agencies will simplify and assist home buyers in attaining a more sustainable residence.

Water, Energy and Bush Capital

Continue ACTPLA’s existing schools education program, and consider its expansion.

ACTPLA currently promotes its education program to primary school students through its successful ‘How to Build a Suburb’ program. The education kit is designed to expand and with coordination with the schools the resource material can be adapted to best suit future curriculum.

Children are the consumers of tomorrow and building their awareness now will create expectations for more sustainable design and development in the future.

Medium term 5–10 years — resourcing and pricing Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Bush Capital, Economics and Administration

Investigate ways in which ecosystem service values of vegetation (i.e. contribution to air quality et al) can be incorporated into ACTPLA assessment processes.

Inappropriate to include in development assessment. Requires substantial collection of data and development of a complex assessment tool. More appropriate to determine the value in structure and concept planning.

Account for the true value of vegetation in development decisions.

Water and Energy

Investigate local community energy solutions and commission cost benefit analysis studies to assess the effectiveness of centralising versus decentralising water and power at local and regional scale.

Will require high quality community engagement as part of the studies. Individuals do not always have the opportunity to install alternative energy sources in or on their dwellings. Planning policy and legislation should allow for residents to install and invest in community systems.

Creates the opportunity for people to invest in alternative energy systems and promotes a distributed energy system.

Transport, Energy, Economics and Administration

Encourage development of public/private partnerships to establish funding systems to support effective transit-oriented development.

Requires a shift in focus for the ACT Government and its Land Development Agency to consider development and infill sites. Revenue returns to the community need to be considered.

Increase the rate at which transit-oriented development is achieved.

Water

Reduce potable water use through financial incentives e.g. investigate the feasibility of a tax on sewerage amount produced, or provide rebates to install grey water systems. A coordinated research project about the pros and cons of a variety of incentives across alternatives could be undertaken.

Need to consider the cost of undertaking the research and ensuring feasible methods of implementation and certification of systems.

Provides information to consumers to evaluate which approach suits their budget, property and lifestyle.

Government to consider reversing the proportion of expenditure outlined in ACT Government Integrated Transport Framework: Ready for the Future August 2008. Approximately $210m is earmarked for roads and parking, and approximately $58m on public transport, walking and cycling.

Expenditure is linked to maintaining infrastructure. A major change could lead to dislocation in service. The Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP) is addressing all forms of transport. Changing the proportion can be developed over time to support and encourage alternative transport modes.

Energy and Transport

Requires research not just in collecting data but how these incentives can be applied and monitored. Reflect the concern about improving public transport.

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Medium term 5–10 years — governance and engagement Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Define methods applied throughout planning to produce relevant information in order to evaluate the consequences of planning decisions against performance goals; and integrate them into the various codes in the Territory Plan

Through the evaluation of the Spatial Plan there is an opportunity to refine the performance targets and incorporate into the ACT Planning Strategy.

Building in targets and triggers will provide not only more effective monitoring of outcomes but more importantly facilitate adaptive planning and development responses.

Bush Capital

Engage, empower and resource local community groups to have management responsibilities for urban natural areas

Need to investigate how these groups can be established and managed.

Involving the community builds an understanding of the environment as well as the obligation of citizenship.

Economics and Administration

Promote public-private partnerships for sustainability:

Opportunities for innovative delivery through engagement with industry should be sought.

Encourages industry to become willing participants in providing high quality sustainability outcomes.

• ongoing innovation dialogue

Performance measures linked to the targets could progressively be incorporated into the Territory Plan. The current review of the subdivision and residential codes is considering how these might apply.

with industry and science

Raises awareness and understanding of the implementation of sustainability issues.

• new delivery and financial models

• support-for-change decisionmaking framework with reduced timeframes. Economics and Administration

Cross jurisdictional regulation for ACT/NSW for energy.

Differences in regulations across political/geographic boundaries need to be addressed.

Focus shifts to regional issues and breaks down barriers across jurisdictions.

All

Implement findings of shortterm recommendations i.e. investigate a range of incentives which encourage a wide range of sustainable behaviour, for example water use reduction gains a cheaper per litre price, or voluntary work in bushland is credited towards rates.

Requires regular collection and monitoring of usage data, recording of volunteer participation and requires an economic value to be placed on volunteer work.

Provides the community with economic incentives to participate in efficiency practices and environmental initiatives.

Medium term 5–10 years — governance and engagement continued Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water, Bush Capital, Economics and Administration

Investigate methods of taking account of non-monetary values of environment e.g. water, bush.

Requires triple bottom line budget proposals.

Gives economic consideration of the true value of natural resources and the environment, including health and community benefits and creating a sense of place.

Water, Bush Capital, Economics and Administration

As part of a commitment to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, participate and/or support programs such as:

Through the monitoring of these programs there is an opportunity to define performance targets and incorporate them into the ACT Planning Strategy.

Effective management of highly valued environment.

• monitoring the status of

Requires monetary values to be placed on environmental features.

natural systems

• bushland management • rehabilitation/regeneration schemes

• community education and information.

• planning for all trials and sites for festivals. Energy, Water and Transport

Desk top review of existing literature on adaptation strategies and retrofitting for climate change in Canberra. Information to be fed into subdivision code and other relevant codes, and into a review of the Spatial Plan.

Work is being undertaken reviewing best practice from other jurisdictions as part of the Sustainable future program and the East Lake Urban Renewal project.

Understanding best practice will flow through to code variations.

Bush Capital

Consider the development of an overlay to protect ecologically significant linking vegetation.

Structure plans and precinct codes consider high value areas and connectivity between these areas.

Maintain connectivity of the open space network and native fauna pathways.

Long term 10 years + —strategic policy Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Culture and Bush Capital

Provide a public realm that recognises and values social inclusion and engagement for all ages and cultural backgrounds of the community.

Ensure public spaces are designed to cater for diverse community needs.

Recognise and celebrate diversity in the community.

All

Canberra as a model city for sustainability.

The Sustainable future program and the East Lake Urban Renewal project will showcase sustainability.

To provide national leadership and to demonstrate the advantages of the recognition and consideration of sustainable planning concepts.

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Long term 10 years + — housing neighbourhoods and design Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

Neighbourhood design standards to include: mixed land uses, walking and cycling infrastructure, served by public transport, suitable mix of recreation opportunities within walking and cycling distance (five to ten minutes), some local employment, a local shopping centre which includes reasonably priced fresh food supplies (not just takeaway).

Through the evaluation of the Spatial Plan there is an opportunity to refine the performance targets and incorporate into the ACT Planning Strategy.

To create sustainable communities.

Culture

Densification of town centres in combination with high quality multi-use green spaces.

Through the evaluation of the Spatial Plan and the Strategic Public Transport Network plan there is an opportunity to increase density.

Reduce urban sprawl while maintaining high levels of amenity.

Economics, Culture and Knowledge

Government to consider whether to extend the current 15 per cent target for affordable housing in new suburbs to major infill projects.

Requires a shift in focus for the ACT Government and its Land Development Agency to consider development and infill sites. Revenue returns to the community need to be considered.

This proposition would eventually provide a greater choice for affordable housing and make use of existing infrastructure.

Culture and Bush Capital

Provide well designed public open spaces within neighbourhoods to increase the opportunities for participation in active recreation and to build social contacts.

The quality of public open space will become increasingly important as higher density residential areas are developed.

Opportunities for active recreation and social contact improve community health and well being.

Culture and Bush Capital

Create neighbourhood environments that promote regular physical activity through safe, well connected and accessible places. Places that are aesthetically pleasing and that encourage walking and cycling.

Further enhance opportunities for open space networks as integral to the urban structure with attractive spaces that are well distributed throughout the neighbourhood.

Increased physical activity contributes to the short and long-term health and well being of the community.

Long term 10 years—program exemplars Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Transport and Energy

Formalise and publicise car pooling and shared vehicles schemes, where vehicles are used occasionally for shopping or distance travel, to reduce the need for car ownership.

Car pooling has generally been most effective in work places. The ACT Government could lead by example by initiating car pooling schemes in all departments and then on to other work places. Dynamic ridesharing using mobile technology may free up the limitations of current preorganised pooling methods.

Greater use of car pooling will reduce peak hour traffic volumes and the number of parking spaces required. Shared vehicle schemes will reduce the need for a second car. Car use is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Mobile communications and information technologies will be harnessed to improve the flexibility of schemes.

Transport and Energy

Increase bicycle use and convenience by implementing a bike share scheme, similar to many European cities. Consider free bicycles to encourage cycling as an alternative to car use.

Canberra’s cycling infrastructure, layout and climate will enable a bicycle share scheme to be established relatively easily. Intertown cycling may be popular. A cost-benefit analysis of both propositions is required.

Providing more opportunities for cycling will reduce the need for car use and parking while promoting increased health benefits.

Water

Support the restoration of concrete storm water drains to semi-natural creeks.

Work to introduce wetland storage into existing urban areas has been demonstrated and new projects are being planned. Significant support and community group involvement has been a feature of the work. Continue to plan, implement and innovate in the area of urban water management.

Improvement and rehabilitation of the environment, creation of habitat and quality urban open space benefitting the community.

Transport

An efficient mass transport system, powered by a renewable energy source and be separated from general road traffic.

Ensure current improvements to frequent public transport routes and corridors can accommodate technology and system improvements in the future.

Radically reduce emissions from transport sector, embraces new technology as it becomes available.

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Long term 10 years + — personal behaviour Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water

Look for ways to encourage the use of less saline detergents because it will a) reduce salt loads into the catchment and b) avoid salinisation of soil locally from water re-use.

This requires effective education of consumers to highlight the issue. Possibly an action for the office of Sustainability and the Environment.

Improvement of water quality in the Murrumbidgee River. Avoids expense of alternative measures to remove salt loads

Long term 10 years + — resourcing and pricing Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

Water

Connect water price to dam storage levels

Undertake analysis to understand social, environment and economic implications i.e. if dam levels are low consumers pay more, if dam levels are full, the cost of water could be cheaper.

Places a monetary value on a scarce resource with the aim of reducing water consumption which is a priority.

Water

Increase potable water price

Aims to promote the use of rainwater tanks and other recycling responses. Social, environment and economic implications need to be understood. Note: countries with the lowest water use have the highest price for water.

Responds to the need for water security and places a monetary value on a scarce resource with the aim of reducing water consumption.

Energy and Transport

Review taxi pricing, as currently concerns about the availability of public transport after 7pm and the high cost of a taxi encourages car use.

Integrated transport planning is required to address transport mode supply. TaMS is currently consulting on its Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP) which is considering greater investment in public transport. Alternative demand responsive modes may also be considered.

Promotes expanded transport choices.

Long Term 10 years + — governance and engagement Workshop

Proposition

Implications/actions

Significance

All

ACT Integrated Planning Framework for a new planning legacy based on sustainability.

Continue to improve inner-organisational and interdepartmental coordination and collaboration.

Coordinated leadership in sustainable urban planning to successfully manage complex challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and the economy.

Government agencies currently liaise extensively on project based work. Further enhancement of these relationships will reinforce productive project outcomes.

Promotes and reinforces holistic approaches and systems thinking.

Developing integrated strategic planning directions that are consistently translated into statutory planning:

• systems-based • evidence-based • participatory. Economics and Administration

Improve inter-agency cooperation and management by working on projects in interdisciplinary teams.

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Appendix 3 Historic Maps of Canberra

Commonwealth of Australia Federal Capital Competition: City and Environs (1912 Competition Plan – NAA 710 38)

Canberra: Plan of City and Environs (1918 Plan – NLA Map G8984 C3 G45 1918)

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Canberra Federal Capital of Australia: Preliminary Plan (1913 Preliminary Plan – NLA Map G8984 C3 Gri 1913)

Commonwealth Gazetted Plan (1925 – NCA)

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General Plan Concept (1970 – NCDC Tomorrow’s Canberra)

Strategy Plan for Metropolitan Growth (1969 – NCDC Tomorrow’s Canberra)

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Metropolitan Policy Plan (1984 – NCDC)

Metropolitan Policy Plan, Inset (1984 – NCDC)

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Metropolitan Structure (2002 - Territory Plan)

General Policy Plan, Metropolitan Canberra (NCA)

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Territory Plan

The Canberra Spatial Plan

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Appendix 4 Sustainable transport Action Plan 2010-2016 The current ACT transport planning framework consists primarily of the Sustainable Transport Plan (STP), released in 2004 and the Integrated Transport Framework (ITF), released in 2008. The STP established targets to increase the use of walking, cycling and public transport from 13 per cent of work trips in 2001 to 20 per cent by 2011 and to 30 per cent by 2026. This requires 16 per cent of work trips by public transport, 7 per cent by cycling and a 7 per cent by walking in the next 17 years. The fact the government recently reaffirmed these goals and data indicates we are well on the way to achieving these targets. The ITF established principles to achieve an efficient, accessible, sustainable and reliable transport system. The government is continuing to build on these policies to achieve the long term targets, and is developing a Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010–16 (STAP). The STAP will be an action plan within the integrated transport policy framework to support government transport decision-making, infrastructure investments and policy and regulatory initiatives from 2010 to 2016 and beyond. The STAP will have five components listed below.

•

An overarching Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010–2016, which will set out how the government will implement the 2004 Sustainable Transport Plan and respond to transport demand, to 2016.

•

The Public Transport Strategy, which will be informed by the Strategic Public Transport Network Plan developed by McCormick Rankin Cagney. This will incorporate public comments from consultation conducted in July and August 2009. The Public Transport Strategy will also include the preliminary findings of the taxi review currently underway.

•

The Parking Strategy, which will draw on the draft Parking Strategy released for public comment in 2007. The strategy will be supplemented and updated to include input from studies currently underway relating to an integrated transport-supportive parking pricing policy, parking supply options and a parking offset fund.

•

The Cycling and Walking Strategy, which will be based on two studies running concurrently from August 2009: a study of cycling and walking infrastructure and accessibility in the town centres and major employment nodes, and a study which reviews the policy, regulatory and behavioural initiatives that can help achieve modal shifts towards more cycling and walking in Canberra.

•

The Transport Infrastructure Plan, which will be based on input from the other strategies, and will include an updated road infrastructure forward work program, and elements from the ACT’s Road Safety Strategy. The Transport Infrastructure Plan will set out the capital investments to both support greater mode shifts towards sustainable transport options, and respond to capacity constraints in the transport system in the short to medium term.

ACTPLA and TAMS are working with all ACT Government agencies to ensure the Sustainable Transport Action Plan is integrated with the Sustainable futures program and other related work across government. The STAP and supporting strategies will be released in mid-2010.

More information For further information on the Sustainable Transport Action Plan, please visit the website www.sustainabletransport.act.gov.au or phone Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

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