DPA-14: Draft Planning Amendment 14
A proposed Territory Plan amendment for Block 1653 Belconnen. What is proposed, what the evidence base shows, and how to have your say.
Planning comments closed; petition open
The formal DPA-14 consultation period closed on 20 July 2026. ACT Planning accepted late comments until 3 August 2026. The ACT Planning comment period has now ended.
A separate ACT Legislative Assembly e-petition about DPA-14 remains open until 14 September 2026.
30-second summary
DPA-14 is a proposed change to the Territory Plan for Block 1653 Belconnen, near the growing West Belconnen and Ginninderry communities. The change would add "recycling facility" and "bulk landscape supplies" as additional assessable uses for the site. It would not itself approve a facility, but it would broaden the types of development that could be applied for and assessed on Block 1653 through a future development application process.
The key issue is not whether green waste services are needed. The issue is whether these land uses should be written into the Territory Plan for this particular site, and whether the community has been clearly told what types of developments could become allowable if the amendment is approved. The official material describes the proposal as a green waste recycling facility, but the planning term proposed for the Territory Plan is the broader "recycling facility" use. The publicly released DPA-14 material does not appear to specify whether that use would be limited to green or garden waste, or what other materials, processing activities, supporting operations or future changes could later be applied for or assessed under that use.
Before the Territory Plan is changed, the ACT Government should clearly explain why Block 1653 is suitable, what evidence has been relied on, how impacts will be managed, what development types could become assessable on the site, and whether this is a standalone proposal or part of a broader waste-infrastructure plan for the area.
Why this matters: changing the planning rules
DPA-14 is not just a decision about where green waste should be processed. It is a proposed change to the Territory Plan, which is the rulebook that guides what can be approved on land in the ACT.
Once a use is added to the Territory Plan for a particular site, future development applications are assessed against that changed planning framework. That means the amendment can shape what happens on the site for years.
For that reason, the public should be able to see a clear evidence trail. The ACT Government should explain why Block 1653 Belconnen is suitable, how earlier studies about Block 1582 apply to the current Block 1653 parcel, what impacts have been assessed, and what safeguards would apply if the site is used or intensified over time.
Key issues residents are asking about
The following themes have emerged as significant in public discussion of DPA-14. Each is addressed in more detail on the linked pages.
- Evidence base: Is the evidence current, site-specific to Block 1653, and accurately presented — or does it rely on older Block 1582 data without adequate justification?
- Co-location risk: Could the amendment enable staged intensification of waste and resource-management uses beyond what is currently described?
- Odour and public health: Has an independent, site-specific odour impact and health risk assessment been conducted?
- Traffic and access: Are traffic and access assumptions current and specific to Block 1653's conditions?
- Environmental and waterway risk: Has the risk of leachate and stormwater contamination been properly assessed?
- Bushfire and emergency management: Have fire risk and emergency access implications been independently assessed?
- Consultation quality: Have all affected communities had adequate access to the full technical documentation?
Official documents
The following are the authoritative sources on DPA-14. Always verify details from official ACT government documents before forming a view or making a submission.
ACT Government — official documents
See the Source Documents page for the official consultation page, the DPA-14 primary documents, supporting background papers, and related accountability and case-study sources.
What residents can do
- Understand the proposal. Read the key information for a verified summary, then check the original documents on the Source Documents page.
- Examine the evidence base. Review the evidence gaps page for a systematic assessment of what is and is not supported by current, site-specific data.
- Understand the concerns. Review questions for government that remain unanswered.
- Consider the context. Review lessons from other cases, including Auditor-General findings on Territory Plan process integrity and comparable waste facility case studies.
- Take action. The ACT Planning comment period for DPA-14 has closed — the formal consultation period ended on 20 July 2026, and ACT Planning accepted late comments until 3 August 2026. A separate ACT Legislative Assembly petition remains open until 14 September 2026. See our Take Action guide for details and to sign the petition.
Explore further
DPA-14 pages
Key Information
Start here for the core facts, what DPA-14 proposes, why residents are concerned, and what still needs to be explained.
→Background Timeline
Understand the sequence of earlier studies, development applications, community responses and planning decisions leading to DPA-14.
→Evidence Gaps
Review the key evidence questions, including site-specific assessment, Block 1582 to Block 1653 transferability, traffic, odour, environment, bushfire and potential co-location.
→Lessons from Other Cases
See why previous planning governance findings and odour-related case studies matter for how DPA-14 should be assessed.
→Questions for Government
Use these questions in submissions, emails to representatives, public meetings or community discussions.
→Take Action
ACT Planning comments have closed. Sign the ACT Legislative Assembly petition (closes 14 September 2026) — the currently open way to have your say.
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