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

We called for the establishment of a federal infrastructure fund in @abundanthousing.org.au's 2025 election policy statement, the Brick Book (buff.ly/gWE5KeR).

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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 · 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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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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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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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 · 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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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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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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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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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

Our reviews of Independents for Canberra, Strong Independents, Fiona Carrick Independent, and Belco Party policies. 3/

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

Our reviews of ACT Labor, Canberra Liberals, and ACT Greens party policies. 2/

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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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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 23/05/2024

Media release: The Statement of Planning Priorities released by Minister Steel today represents an important step toward delivering abundant housing and lower emissions for the benefit of all Canberrans. Read our full statement below.

Planning statement charts course for more homes and lower emissions
In February 2023, Greater Canberra joined with over a dozen other community organisations in the Missing Middle Canberra coalition to call upon the ACT Government to change our planning laws to legalise medium density housing - townhouses, terraces, low rise apartment blocks - throughout our city. We also called upon the ACT Government to allow for more housing in and around each suburb's local shops.
Today's statement of planning priorities is a large and important step to delivering this abundant housing future for all Canberrans. The development of a missing middle design guide is a commitment to real reform to Canberra's suburbs that will deliver homes where people want to live.
This reform could deliver tens of thousands of medium density homes over the coming decades - homes for downsizers and new families, homes that reduce urban sprawl, emissions and will drive down housing costs and rents.

The housing crisis and climate crises are urgent. There is around 9 years left of housing supply left that is legal to build under the current Territory Plan, and only 20 years to reduce Canberra's stubbornly high transport emissions to near zero. Greater Canberra looks forward to engaging with our partners and the government to make sure that the reforms are completed in a reasonable timeframe as well as being done right. The Missing Middle Design Guide cannot afford to meet the same fate as the Kingston Arts Precinct (in limbo since 1997), or the ill-fated Demonstration Housing Project.
The other elements of this statement are also welcome. The redevelopment of the Northbourne corridor has delivered huge benefits for our city including thousands of new homes, and the development of the Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework has the potential to deliver these benefits to Canberra's South along the route of Stage 2B.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 03/05/2024

Great to see Elle Lawless, ED of the Conservation Council ACT, making the case for urban infill as a way of reducing suburban sprawl and protecting our environment. It’s time for the ACT government to support missing middle housing across our city! www.canberratimes.com.au/story/861435...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 28/04/2024

The Government’s plans for 1,300 new homes in Curtin are a positive step toward allowing more Canberrans to live near public transport and great amenities. We hope to see this same level of ambition on housing along the whole light rail route and across our suburbs.

We are excited to see the Government progressing with delivering well-located homes in North Curtin. This new residential precinct is an opportunity for more Canberrans to live near high-quality amenities and have access to excellent public transport.
The Government must be ambitious with maximising the housing potential of this site, and the whole Light Rail Stage 2 route, to benefit as many Canberrans as possible, and reduce the ACT's transport emissions. The proposed 1,300 new homes will help to address our ongoing housing shortage, but they are worth only 3 months worth of Canberra's usual housing supply. The Government still needs to allow more housing around the Light Rail corridor through the Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework, and they need to deliver the Missing Middle reforms that are critical to revitalising local centres across the rest of Canberra.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 09/04/2024

Our next members and supporters catch-up is happening 6pm this Thursday at King O’Malleys! All are welcome - come along to chat about housing & urbanism, and get an update on our advocacy work.

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 13/03/2024

Our very first members and supporters catch-up of the year will be happening tomorrow Thursday 14 March, 6pm at King O'Malley's. Come along to meet our team and chat all things urbanism and housing in the ACT!

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 04/03/2024

In our submission to the ACT’s inquiry into climate change, we make the case for why density is key to Canberra reaching net zero. It's time to allow denser, mixed-use neighbourhoods across the ACT, and prioritise our clean transport infrastructure. Head to our website for more: buff.ly/49TRud7

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 25/02/2024

You can catch our very own Ed Smyth in the Canberra Times this morning discussing how planning laws are holding back social housing in the ACT. It’s time to allow mid-density homes across Canberra, and make social housing builds Territory Priority Projects. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8533450/

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 11/02/2024

“The reason why we have these very large mansions in Forrest, that are always going up in value, is, legally, it’s only ever allowed to be mansion.” Catch our Convenor Howard in the Canberra Times on why we need zoning reform to allow more homes. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8514877/

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 10/02/2024

Increasing housing supply works in tandem with renter protections to make life better for Canberra renters. Great piece in the Canberra Times this week from Joel, Executive Director of Better Renting and a supporter of the Missing Middle Canberra campaign! www.canberratimes.com.au/story/851327...

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 27/01/2024

Great to see this letter from our Deputy Convenor Matt in the Canberra Times the other day. Local shops are an essential amenity for so many Canberrans - allowing more housing nearby just makes sense.

Photo of Canberra times letter to the editor:

Life is local

As someone who lives around the corner from my local shops, it's great to see interest in allowing more Canberrans to share in the benefits ("Shops to be housing hubs", January 22, p1).

From wandering down for a family dinner at the pub, to morning coffees with friends, to rushing down to the pharmacy to pick up a much-needed prescription; there's a certain freedom that comes with having food, community, and amenities just a short walk away.

I'm also aware of how fortunate I am to be able to live where I do - in an apartment complex that couldn't be built if it weren't for the more generous zoning rules that apply near to our local shops.

For me, allowing more homes like this for Canberrans seems like a no-brainer.
Shouldn't everyone have easy access to the simple joys of their local shops?

Matthew Bowes, O'Connor

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Greater Canberra @greatercanberra.org.au · 20/01/2024

Late last year the National Capital Authority released draft plans to allow for mixed-use development on the former forestry school site in Yarralumla. In our submission on the plans, we call for fewer height restrictions and better active travel connections. greatercanberra.org/blog/submiss...

Submission on National Capital
Plan Draft Amendment 97
Greater Canberra blog post
Our submission on the National Capital Authority's proposed amendment to enable the former Australia Forestry School site in Yarralumla to be developed into a mixed-use housing precinct.

'The draft amendment specifies that buildings shall be a maximum of 3 storeys, not including a basement level. We understand that the initial proposal brought by the proponent included plans for buildings up to 5 storeys tall, but that these plans were changed largely as a result of advocacy from the Yarralumla Residents Association...We do not believe that the reduction in built form brought by reducing the building height from 5 to 3 storeys has any community or heritage value.'

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