The ACT government is moving on planning and legislative reforms, says Planning Minister Chris Steel, announcing initially “a few simple ways we can improve and streamline some of our processes to make things easier for consumers and industry alike.” 

He said that many of the productivity reforms involved improving how the planning approval system was run and included tightening internal processes, consolidating tasks and improving the effectiveness of existing resources.

“The agreed reforms under our productivity agenda will lead to better outcomes for all Canberrans with noticeably shorter timeframes for building and development to be [assessed]” said Minister Steel.

The first stage of legislative reforms over coming months and included changes to:

• Make greywater piping requirements in new homes voluntary, with a direct cost saving of approximately $1550 for homeowners
• Simplify energy efficiency upgrade requirements for extensions and renovations
• Recognise Passive House (PassivHaus) certification as a compliance pathway for energy efficiency requirements of new homes
• Expanding exempt development for low-impact minor building works and the types of development which can apply for an exemption declaration.

“Since the millenium drought, there has been a requirement to install greywater pipework in all new houses in the ACT, but very few homes have actually installed grey water systems. This an example of a well-intentioned requirement that has come at a significant cost with very few benefits realised,” said Minister Steel.

“Making grey water piping installation voluntary is just one measure proposed in our broader reforms that will make housing simpler to build and more affordable.”

Steel said the government was also working under the National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement and the associated ACT Jurisdiction Specific Reform Plan and has committed in the coming year to projects that will:

• Limit anti-competitive objections to development.
• Remove anti-competitive considerations from planning, rezoning and development processes.
• Expand the range of permissible land uses.
• Streamline criteria and processes for development assessment and rezoning.
• Support the uptake of modern methods of construction (eg prefabricated and modular construction).