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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 22/05/2026

Today’s decision by the Planning Minister to approve the Missing Middle Housing Reforms marks a turning point for Canberra.

Planning (Missing Middle Housing Reform) Major Plan Amendment 2026 approval notice

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Greater Brisbane 🏗️ @greaterbrisbane.org · 10/05/2026

Our national @abundanthousing.org.au network kicked off three years ago with a campaign to get the federal government to pay states to fix their outdated planning laws. Today we won.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 10/05/2026

We welcome this weekend’s Federal Budget announcement of a $2 billion local infrastructure fund to unlock more homes across the country. As one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities over the last couple of decades, Canberra must get its fair share of this huge federal investment.

The Commonwealth has made clear that this funding is tied to upzoning in well-located areas and fixing planning system bottlenecks. States and territories are on notice that they won’t get funding for infrastructure if they’re not allowing homes in the places that already have the infrastructure and create the highest social returns on investment.

Our current pipeline of planning reforms sets us up well to benefit from this fund. This announcement underscores the importance of getting our Missing Middle Housing Reforms done right, and being ambitious rather than timid in planning for housing around Light Rail Stage 2B and the Southern Gateway.

We look forward to seeing the details of the local infrastructure funding plan, and we call on the Commonwealth to work with the ACT Government to ensure Canberra gets the funding it deserves. The ACT should be rewarded for pursuing large-scale, universal zoning reforms, not short-changed due to the progress we are already making towards enabling housing supply.

While we expect a significant portion of the fund to go to works enabling greenfields development, including necessary suburban road infrastructure, the Commonwealth must also ensure this funding is available for infrastructure supporting urban infill, including active and public transport investments.

We also welcome the announcement of a number of other housing productivity measures, including free access to Australian Standards that are mandatory for construction. Cutting these unnecessary costs will make Missing Middle housing projects more viable, particularly for smaller-scale developers and contractors.

In the nation’s capital, the Commonwealth has a special role to play in housing policy as both a landowner and a regulator. We are pleased that recently the National Capital Authority has been putting forward significant proposals to deliver more housing in NCA Designated Areas. The NCA should work as closely as possible with the ACT Government to ensure that planning reforms and infrastructure delivery are coordinated across both territory and federal jurisdiction. We also call on the Commonwealth to finalise the negotiations on the CSIRO Ginninderra site as soon as possible.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 30/04/2026

The Legislative Assembly’s Environment and Planning Committee has recommended that the Missing Middle reforms be approved, recognising the need for bold, comprehensive zoning reform to deliver a sustainable and affordable Canberra. Our media release ➡️ greatercanberra.org/blog/media-r...

greatercanberra.org

Media Release: Assembly backs Missing Middle reform

Every member of the Legislative Assembly's Environment and Planning Committee has endorsed the Missing Middle Housing Reforms.

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 09/02/2026

I'll be at the Assembly tomorrow to help make the case for Missing Middle in front of the Environment and Planning Committee (chaired by @joclaygreens.bsky.social and featuring Peter Cain, Caitlin Tough and Fiona Carrick). Let's get this done!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 09/02/2026

Tomorrow, we'll be at the Assembly for the Environment and Planning Committee's hearing into Missing Middle! We'll be up from 1:20-1:50pm. Watch us in-person in the Prince Edward Island Room, or stream online ➡️ buff.ly/2HWs3ai

Inquiry into DPA-04 Missing Middle Housing Reforms

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 09/02/2026

We're thrilled to announce that Alain Bertaud, author of Order without Design and former Principal Planner for the World Bank, will be coming to Canberra on March 5th, in collaboration with our friends at @yimby.melbourne. Get your tickets ➡️ buff.ly/M3rstZx

YIMBY Melbourne and Greater Canberra present Order without Design with Alain Bertaud and Howard Maclean, 6:30pm March 5, Verity Lane Market

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 04/11/2025

If we truly want to maintain Canberra's status as "the bush capital", then we need reforms that enable us to build housing in those areas already occupied, not enable further sprawl that will undermine the bush capital.

Canberra Times letter from Darcy Murphy, Harrison, on 3 November 2025, arguing that Missing Middle reforms enable housing to be built in a way that protects the bush character of the capital through building in areas already occupied rather than further sprawl, there has been extensive consultation, and that these reforms will help restore Canberra's affordability.

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 02/11/2025

Comments on the Northern Gateway Draft Plan Amendment close 5pm Tuesday. The @greatercanberra.org.au take: great that rezoning is *finally* happening, but it's also far from sufficient. Height limits as low as 8.5m *right next to light rail* More info: www.planning.act.gov.au/professional...

Downer/Watson building height map from DPA-09. Shows limits of 8.5, 12, 18 metres right next to Northbourne Ave/Federal Highway

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 02/11/2025

Very proud to see my friend and comrade, @howardfmaclean.bsky.social, named as a finalist for the 2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year, thanks to his work leading @greatercanberra.org.au! australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/h...

Canberra Times front page - "Faces of Inspiration", including Howard Maclean among other ACT nominees for the Australian of the Year awards

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Jonathan O'Brien @jonobri.com · 27/05/2025

One underrated positive change in the new govt structure is the positioning of housing directly within Treasury, rather than Social Services. This makes sense: housing is fundamental economic infrastructure. 🧵

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 25/05/2025

My quality of life would be greatly improved by having as many of my dearest friends as possible living near me, much more so than heritage restrictions that make it impossible to build mixed-use in the best group centre area in the Inner South

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 25/05/2025

"Is it truly the shopfronts that make Kingston special, or is it the sense of community and accessibility that draws people in?"

Screenshot of letter to the editor in the Sunday Canberra Times, 25 May 2025, "Give more of us the option of enjoying lovely Kingston", by Adam Tadmore, in response to an article about the reaction of the Kingston and Barton Residents Group to discussion of the future potential for shop-top housing in the Kingston Shops area

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Travis Jordan @grugstan.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Huge win from the Greater Canberra crew! In just four years, GC’s ragtag bunch of volunteers have completely reshaped Canberra politics, redesigned the entire planning scheme and secured crosspartisan support for the changes.

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YIMBY Melbourne @yimby.melbourne · 20/05/2025

It's fantastic to see @greatercanberra.org.au strong advocacy for zoning reform is paying off! The only way to end this housing shortage is to build our way out.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 19/05/2025

MISSING MIDDLE IS COMING TO CANBERRA! The ACT Government has today released its Missing Middle plan to enable more medium-density housing across Canberra.

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 22/04/2025

It's time for the federal government to step up and lead. We need more medium density housing. We need more social and public housing. We need more assistance for renters. Let's do it!

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 22/04/2025

And now, last but not least, @howardfmaclean.bsky.social, telling us that Australia hasn't built enough housing, and that's why we spend more on housing than we did when we were a much poorer country a century ago.

Howard Maclean, showing a statistical table from 1911 about housing costs in Australia

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 22/04/2025

The @davidpocock.bsky.social housing event is kicking off - good to see him pointing out that the major party policy announcements are too focused on first home buyers when we need to care about everyone including renters

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 21/04/2025

TOMORROW NIGHT: Our convenor, @howardfmaclean.bsky.social, will be joining @davidpocock.bsky.social's panel discussion on the Great Housing Debate to make the case for Missing Middle housing! Join us 6:30pm-8pm at Erindale Theatre! Register and submit your questions here: buff.ly/oIL3tZp

The Great Housing Debate - register at davidpocock.com.au

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 16/04/2025

Together with our friends at @sydney.yimby.au, @yimby.melbourne and @greaterbrisbane.org, today we're launching THE BRICK BOOK, our federal policy platform for the 2025 election. ⬇️Read it here!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 04/02/2025

MEDIA RELEASE: Stop NIMBY lawfare against public housing We strongly support the Government’s legislation to fast-track planning approvals for public housing and public health facilities by removing the possibility of third-party ACAT appeals. buff.ly/4hp7NTy

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Joseph Mann @josephmann.au · 02/02/2025

made my first planning submission in favour of this

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Abundant Housing Network Australia @abundanthousing.org.au · 04/02/2025

It's great to see the Prime Minister take leadership on making Australia a country that builds the homes that people need🏘️🏗️

"Years ago, there's a development in Marrickville right on the station called Revolution Apartments. It's in the old Marrickville RSL site. And I had a group of people come to see me, and they were totally hostile to the development. And I said to them, 'what better location is there for medium density?' I think it's probably six or seven stories high, and they got additional apartments allowed by having some affordable housing development in there. Importantly, they don't need a car space for every flat, because it's right on Marrickville station." - Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 02/02/2025

Support more homes in Ainslie! Draft Plan Amendment 2 would allow the Ainslie Football Club to advance a mixed use project that protects its existing oval while delivering 200-400 homes. Find more details about how to show your support below! www.planning.act.gov.au/professional...

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Abundant Housing Network Australia @abundanthousing.org.au · 03/12/2024

The Abundant Housing Network Australia welcomes the addition of housing construction workers to the core skills visa list, a necessary step toward building the 1.2 million well-located homes our country desperately needs.

AHNA welcomes the addition of housing construction workers to the core skills visa list, a necessary part of building the 1.2 million well-located homes our country desperately needs. We have been calling for this change since our September 2023 letter to Minister O'Neil, and are pleased to see the government finally take action, and actually treat this crisis like a crisis.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 24/11/2024

It’s that time of year - our Annual General Meeting is happening tonight, 6pm at the Griffin Centre in Civic. Come along to hear about what we’ve been up to, and where we’re going next in our push for more homes, and a more liveable and sustainable Canberra.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 24/11/2024

Over the past year, the ACT has built more homes per person than any state bar Victoria. The result? Rental affordability has *improved*. There’s a long way to go, but it’s clear that building more homes is the key to making Canberra more affordable for all.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 22/11/2024

Our next members and supporters catch-up is on tomorrow (Saturday) at the new time of 2pm! Catch us at Tilley’s Devine Cafe in Lyneham to talk about all things housing and urbanism. All welcome.

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 16/11/2024

every time I look at this graphic it annoys me so much

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 16/11/2024

Don't forget that our first ever urbanist book club is happening tonight - 6pm at King O'Malleys in Civic. Come along to hear more about how great public transport can make for even better cities!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 15/11/2024

It's a big month of Greater Canberra events, with our first ever book club, our regular supporters catch-up, and our Annual General Meeting all coming up soon. Hope to see you there!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 13/11/2024

Come join our first ever urbanist book club! The first of cab off the rank - or should we say bus - is 'Better Buses, Better Cities'. If you're keen to learn more about how public transport shapes our cities, see you this Saturday 16 November, 6:00pm at King O'Malleys.

Photo of old Canberra bus stop with text overlaid, 'Urbanist book club, Saturday 16 November, 6pm at King O'Malleys, Civic'.

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Abundant Housing Network Australia @abundanthousing.org.au · 13/11/2024

Hello Bluesky! We're AHNA, a national alliance of local community activists fighting for better cities and abundant housing—more homes where people want to live—all over Australia.

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Andrew Donnellan @andrew.donnellan.id.au · 11/11/2024

spent way too many hours over the weekend getting @greatercanberra.bsky.social's paperwork in order ahead of our AGM later this month, but it's all worth it to keep our team doing what it's doing - we will have a few vacancies in the leadership team, DM me if you wanna get involved

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 13/11/2024

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 08/11/2024

The Inner South Canberra Community Council is now lobbying the Greens to oppose zoning reform because prices are falling and they want to avoid an ‘oversupply’. Clearly, the ISCCC is just not interested in making housing more affordable for Canberrans. buff.ly/3YBlbvv

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 30/10/2024

The campaign is over and the votes are in, but our advocacy for abundant housing is just getting started. Come along to a special post-election catch-up this Thursday, 6.30pm at King O’Malleys to talk about what’s next for housing and planning policy in the ACT. All welcome!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 13/10/2024

With voting well underway, we’re pleased to be launching our ACT Election Scorecard, which reviews 7 key party platforms on their support for more and better homes. Abundant housing is on the ballot this election - make sure your vote counts. More details on each party below. 1/

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 05/10/2024

A massive thanks to everyone who attended our election forum last night, and to all the candidates for being willing to talk all things housing and planning for the evening! If you missed it, you can catch the full livestream on our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/live/o--5eia...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 21/09/2024

Building a brand new district of Canberra in Kowen would take time. The Canberra Liberals need a credible plan to build the homes Canberrans need now - and that means committing to missing middle zoning reform. Read our statement below, or on our website. buff.ly/3BeAa6P

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 06/09/2024

Join us at Verity Lane on 2 October as we hear four contenders in the upcoming ACT election explain how they plan to tackle Canberra’s housing shortage and create a more sustainable, liveable and connected city. Free tickets available at the link below www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planning-f...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 31/08/2024

The ACT Greens’ new planning policy represents another important step towards enabling missing middle homes across Canberra. We’ll keep pushing for all parties to back the Missing Middle platform in full. Read our full statement below or on our website. greatercanberra.org/blog/media-r...

Title: Greens policy builds on Missing Middle momentum

Text: Yesterday's release of the ACT Greens' 2024 election planning policy represents another important step towards legalising missing middle housing across Canberra. Last year, Greater Canberra was proud to stand with 15 partner organisations to endorse the Missing Middle Canberra platform, calling for more homes in the places people want to
live.
The Greens policy endorses key elements of this platform, including:
• Enabling townhouses and low-rise apartments on the 80% of residential land currently zoned RZ1, by upzoning it to the RZ2 standard
• Upzoning land near to local shops, public transport routes, and the future Light Rail Stage 2B corridor to allow for more high-quality apartments and mixed-use housing development
• Reforming costly parking mandates, to create more housing choices for the growing number of Canberra households with only one car, or no cars, especially near public transport.

We will continue to push for all parties to support the full Missing Middle Canberra platform, including reforms to reduce the number of undemocratic and time-wasting nuisance lawsuits that hold up much-needed new homes and constrain the ACT Government's ambitions for new social housing developments.
The potential of missing middle housing is underlined by the Property Council of Australia's recent Residential Zone Uplift report, which estimates that upzoning larger RZ1 and RZ2 blocks would lead to 60,000 new, well-located homes by 2060, all while providing up to $300 million per year in additional revenue to the ACT Government and alleviating the need for up to 3,000 hectares of new greenfield development.
With Labor and the Greens siding with both community and industry organisations on the urgent need for reform, the ball is now in the court of the Liberals and independents.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 20/08/2024

3 homes become 21 in Dickson! This kind of medium-density housing can only happen when our zoning laws permit it. That's why we need ambitious zoning reform to allow more homes near to jobs, public transport, and local shops. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/873430...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 11/08/2024

At this month’s Green Drinks Canberra meet up, our very own Lucy Gramenz will be talking about how urban density is key to climate action in the ACT! Be there 5.30pm Tuesday 13 August to hear more. www.eventbrite.com.au/e/green-drin...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 08/07/2024

Ever wondered what's involved in advocating for more housing in the ACT? Join our housing advocacy training 10am Saturday 20 July at the Griffin Centre, Civic. Tickets are free, but limited - grab yours at the link below. buff.ly/4bEvfbI

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 30/06/2024

Right now, the ACT Heritage Council is considering blocking further development of the Kingston shops through a new heritage listing, and submissions close soon! Read more below, or join our online write-in session 8pm Monday 1 July at the link. buff.ly/4cJcRQ6

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 04/06/2024

The North Curtin residential area could mean 1300 homes near to public transport and job centres - but like all ambitious housing proposals, it's at real risk of being scaled back. Join us online 8pm this Thursday to learn how you can show your support. discord.gg/5AdB4pEC?eve...

North Curtin Write-in Session Thursday 6 June, 8pm, online via Discord Join our online write-in session and show your support for 1300 well-located homes in the proposed North Curtin residential area.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 27/05/2024

“House prices are rising, and the city can sprawl outwards only so far…the city will need to densify; there’s no getting around it.” Good to see the Canberra Times making the case for reform to allow for us to build more homes, more sustainably. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/864050...

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