Members of the Conservation Council ACT and Friends of Bluetts Block, along with then ACT Greens MLAs, called in 2024 for the wildlife corridor near Denman Prospect to become a nature reserve. Photo: Supplied.
Approved changes to the Territory Plan will protect the ecologically sensitive Bluetts Block and Coombs Peninsula in Molonglo from urban development.
Bluetts Block was the subject of a major community campaign to preserve the bushland habitat in the west of the ACT.
While a section of the land was given up to Denman Prospect housing when Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Chris Steel called in a development application in February 2024, he later moved to create a nature reserve at Block 403 in Stromlo and the undeveloped areas of Block 12 Denman Prospect.
The approval of Major Plan Amendment (MPA-05) removes the Future Urban Area (FUA) overlay and confirms zoning for several key sites across Canberra, including Bluetts Block, Coombs Peninsula, parts of the Molonglo River Reserve, and several infrastructure and open space sites in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Whitlam and Weston.
Mr Steel said planning changes delivered Labor election commitments to protect Coombs Peninsula and Bluetts Block.
“The approval of this Major Plan Amendment means we can safeguard our natural and recreational areas that make Canberra special while also enabling essential infrastructure to support our growing communities,” he said.
MPA-05 aligned with the ACT Planning Strategy by limiting unnecessary urban expansion, strengthening river corridors, and protecting parks and reserves for biodiversity and community enjoyment.
“Bluetts Block holds significant ecological and community value and confirming its long-term protection through this amendment reinforces our commitment to safeguarding important natural landscapes,” Mr Steel said.
The amendment also removes the FUA overlay from Coombs Peninsula, rezoning the area as River Corridor and Urban Open Space, with a special-purpose reserve overlay added to support recreational use and future active travel links.
“Coombs Peninsula will now be protected as part of the broader Molonglo River corridor, delivering on Labor’s commitment at the election,” Mr Steel said.
“This will preserve the character of the area, enhance access to open space and ensure the land cannot be developed for residential use.”
Mr Steel said community input helped shape the final amendment and gave clarity to residents about how these areas would be used into the future.
MPA-05 also confirms zoning for important infrastructure sites across Molonglo and Belconnen and removes outdated overlays from parts of the Gungahlin Town Centre, enabling appropriate development to proceed.
“This is just one action we are taking to protect important environmental areas and deliver essential urban infrastructure,” Mr Steel said.
He said the government would also develop a landscape plan for the ACT led by a new position of the ACT Chief Landscape Architect.
“This will involve further planning to strategic spatial planning to proactively identify, protect, conserve and restore areas of environmental value on the city’s urban interface,” he said.
Public consultation on the draft Major Plan Amendment was held from June to August 2025, with community feedback helping refine boundaries, ensure alignment with existing reserves, and improve long-term planning outcomes.
ACT Greens Deputy Leader Jo Clay said the announcement listing Bluetts Block and Coombs Peninsula into the Molonglo River Reserve today was a win for the community.
But she said the community was tired of piecemeal protection of the ACT’s natural spaces, calling for the entire Western Edge to be protected.
“We also need to actively restore and reconstruct long lost native habitat, not protect small patches as a trade-off for development,” she said.
