The Territory Plan should promote quality development in Canberra

Sometimes timing is everything. This week Ben Ponton, the new head of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, gave his first public address on how he would deliver an ambitious urban renewal agenda for a city on the precipice of transformation.

What we heard though, was not at all about how he would deliver it. Rather, he reminded us that we must work together to succeed.

He hypothesised that the Territory Plan could be just as effective if it consisted of a single page – if it was a page which set an expectation for development excellence, with design principles centred on active travel, aesthetics, connectivity, environments for all people, mixed density, mixed land use, quality open spaces and parks, safety, social inclusion, connected infrastructure, inspired creativity and enabling commerce.

He wasn’t saying the Territory Plan should be thrown out and redrafted. He was saying that if we put these principles at the centre of all that we do then the Territory Plan should enable and not stifle those types of developments. By focusing on the outcomes we all win.

Mr Ponton challenged, inspired and reminded us all, about what we cherish most about this city we call home – daring us to leave a legacy to be proud of and to design and build in a way that inspires others to do the same.

A chief planner that intends on throwing more than a little light on the path forward to becoming the city we deserve to become. And it’s about time.

Adina Cirson is the ACT executive director of the Property Council of Australia.