11 June 2026
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) welcomes the ACT Government's 2026 –27 to 2030 –31 Housing Supply and Land Release Program as a positive step toward addressing Canberra's housing challenge, while noting concerns about the reduction in the affordable housing set -aside and the adequacy of infrastructure funding to support the greenfield program.
"A clear, long -term land release pipeline is exactly the kind of planning certainty that supports better housing outcomes. The focus on infill, missing middle, and transport oriented development reflects sound planning principles, and we commend the Government for committing to a 30,000-home target with a credible five-year program behind it." says Natalia Anderson RPIA, PIA ACT President.
PIA notes, however, that the reduction of the affordable housing set - aside from 20 per cent to 15 per cent of suitable residential land releases is likely to have implications for housing affordability outcomes at a time when pressures on low and moderate income Canberrans remain significant.
"Land set -asides are one of the most effective tools governments have to ensure affordable housing is distributed through the city rather than concentrated in separate projects. Reducing that obligation on government - released land moves us away from the integrated, mixed -income communities that good planning practice supports. We recommend the ACT Government to consider reinstating the 20 per cent target as a minimum."
PIA also notes that the program's ambitions for greenfield areas, including the Molonglo Town Centre and Macnamara, will only be realised if trunk infrastructure investment keeps pace with land release. The $4.6 million committed for planning reform and precinct readiness, while useful, is modest relative to the scale of enabling infrastructure required to make new communities liveable from day one.
"Our planning systems are getting better at approving homes, but feasibility and infrastructure gaps mean too many approved homes aren't progressing to construction. The Government's pipeline will only translate into real homes if infrastructure delivery i s adequately funded and coordinated alongside land release."
PIA calls on the ACT Government to publish a clear infrastructure delivery schedule aligned to the land release program, and to recommit to the 20 per cent affordable housing set - aside as a structural mechanism to complement the direct public housing pipeline investment.
Contact: Tessa Faucheur, 0432 392 351, [email protected]