National Capital Plan Draft Amendment 102 – Hume Circle Precinct

The National Capital Plan (the Plan), administered by the NCA, provides the strategy and blueprint giving effect to the Commonwealth’s interest and intentions for planning, design and developing Canberra and the Territory, and ensures that these interests and intentions are protected.

At its broadest level the Plan prescribes broad land use controls across the whole of the Territory. At its most detailed level, the Plan sets out detailed conditions of planning, design and development for those areas identified as having the special characteristics of the National Capital (the ‘Designated Areas’).

DA102:

• defines the area proposed to be the Hume Circle Precinct
• establishes the proposed Hume Circle Precinct as a Designated Area, reflecting it as an area of national significance
• outlines objectives for the Hume Circle Precinct and defines land uses in the precinct
• requires that prior to any development proposals in the proposed precinct Detailed Conditions of Planning Design and Development must be provided for approval of the NCA including public consultation. 

Draft Amendment 102 has been proposed in response to Australia's National Urban Policy and to reflect the significance of this precinct. 

The policy, which was finalised in November 2024, was jointly developed by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. The policy provides a national vision for Australia’s cities and suburbs to be liveable, equitable, productive, and sustainable. In particular the policy calls for National Cabinet also agreed to a National Planning Reform Blueprint with planning, zoning, land release and other measures to improve housing supply and affordability. The Blueprint encourages medium and high-density housing in well-located areas close to existing public transport connections, amenities, and employment.

Hume Circle was proposed as a place of urban density by the Walter and Marion Mahoney Griffin in their original design for Canberra. However, the Griffin vision for Hume Circle has not been realised, with land largely developed for low scale industrial uses. As these existing facilities age and become unsuitable for contemporary use, there is an opportunity to reimagine Hume Circle and land adjacent, in a manner that is consistent with contemporary planning policy and the original vision for Canberra.

This draft Amendment is proposed based on the special characteristics of this area in the Griffin Plan and the national significance of the precinct as an entry gateway and representation of the important Griffin Plan geometry.

DA102 will increase housing supply and enable mixed use and residential development and contribute to housing supply.

The area subject to DA102 largely reflects the Griffin Plan for Hume Circle (known as Eastlake Circle in the Griffin Plan). 

The area includes land within the circle created by the arcs of McMillan Crescent and Mildura Street. In recognition of the existing development and block subdivisions, land included as part of the proposed Hume Circle Precinct includes Section 6 and Section 26 Fyshwick.

The changes to the Plan will enable lessees to develop their land for a range of purposes not currently permitted by the Territory Plan.

The proposed changes do not require lessees to change their day-to-day activities, but provides a framework to enable them to develop in the future. 

The land within the proposed Hume Circle Precinct is currently zoned under the ACT Government’s Territory Plan. Zonings include CZ2 – Business Zone, IZ2 – Industrial Mixed Use, and CFZ – Community Facilities.

The National Capital Plan uses different land use zonings and policies. DA102 proposes a mixed-use zone permitting residential, community and recreation facilities, retail and commercial uses, and more. The full list of proposed permitted uses is set out in DA102.

DA102 creates a mixed-use zone, which will permit residential and commercial activities. It adopts a similar approach to that adopted by the ACT Government for East Lake, with The Causeway area rezoned in 2024 to primarily a CZ5 – Mixed Use zone. 

DA102 proposes that detailed conditions of planning, design and development must be prepared and approved by the NCA as the next stage of planning, and before a works approval application can be submitted. 

These conditions will be required to address the proposed mix of land uses, social infrastructure, and the public realm, amongst other things and in the context of the precinct and adjoining areas.

Due to the location of the Hume Circle Precinct, including proximity to employment and public transport, the NCA anticipates that the majority of housing delivered in the precinct will be apartments.
 

DA102 does however, enable a diversity of housing to be delivered. Housing diversity would also be considered in the broader context of the precinct and adjoining areas.

DA102 proposes that detailed conditions of planning, design and development be prepared and approved by the NCA as the next stage of planning, and before a works approval application can be submitted. The conditions will be required to address housing diversity, including social and affordable housing.

DA102 does not propose any specific changes to the Hume Circle roundabout but would enable change to be considered as part of future development proposals. 

The ACT Government is currently responsible for the roads (including Hume Place encircling the roundabout) within the precinct and will remain so, should DA102 be approved. The ACT Government may propose changes to the intersection in the future.

The Griffins’ envisaged that Hume Circle would become a major gateway and activity hub, linking the area to the city through an approach route along The Causeway, with a vista to Mount Ainslie. Two rows of medium density, mixed-used development was also intended around Hume Circle, creating a gateway to the Parliamentary Zone. 

There is opportunity to reestablish the original Griffin intent and to improve the urban density, land use and public domain surrounding Hume Circle. Increased building heights can help achieve this and distinguish the node from the broader East Lake area.

The ACT Government may choose to pursue taller permitted building heights for East Lake through statutory processes to amend the Territory Plan.

Land within the proposed Hume Circle Precinct is currently subject to planning and design controls by both the NCA and the ACT Government. DA102 will simplify the planning approval arrangements in and around Hume Circle.

Under the changes proposed by DA102, any development (or ‘works’) within the Hume Circle Precinct would be subject to approval by the NCA.

The Dairy Farmers Co-Operative, located at the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Mildura Street, is listed on the ACT Heritage Register. The listing will remain if the site is incorporated into Designated Areas.

The proponent of any future development proposals for the site will need to address the listed values of the place, for example through a Heritage Impact Assessment. The NCA would refer any development proposals to the ACT Heritage Unit.

Proponents of any development proposal will need to liaise with relevant parties and present information and analysis related to capacity in the existing network and services, and determine what upgrades may be required to support development in the Hume Circle Precinct. 

DA102 is a long-term urban renewal initiative which will utilise and build upon, existing, nearby, social, transport and commercial infrastructure.  The Hume Circle Precinct is anticipated to be developed over a 10-to-15-year period. Ongoing assessment of the impact of the proposal on existing social infrastructure will occur in partnership with the ACT Government as the Hume Circle Precinct progresses.

Active travel will be a key consideration in a development proposal for the precinct- with the detailed design conditions expected to consider new streets, new paths and infrastructure as well as connectivity to the existing network and have regard for active travel infrastructure. 

NCA officers are available to discuss DA102. 

Please contact draft.amendment@nca.gov.au or phone 02 6271 2888 with any enquiries.

Submissions to DA102 can be:

• emailed to draft.amendment@nca.gov.au
• mailed to Chief Planner, National Capital Authority, GPO Box 373, Canberra ACT 2601
• delivered to the National Capital Authority, Ground Floor Treasury Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600.

Submissions are invited until close of business on 3 February 2026.

Following the public consultation period the NCA will prepare a Consultation Report summarising the feedback received during the consultation period. The report will respond to key themes raised in submissions and in other feedback, and detail any changes to the draft amendment that have been made in response to public comment.

The Consultation Report will be shared with submitters and published on the NCA’s website.

Broadly, the following steps will occur following public consultation:

1. A Consultation Report summarising the feedback received during the consultation period will be prepared by the NCA.
2. The Consultation Report will be presented to the NCA Board, who will determine whether the draft amendment should be forwarded to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories for consideration.
3. If approved by the Minister, the amendment will be registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. The amendment takes effect following this. (The amendment is laid before both Houses of Parliament and is subject to a disallowance period.)
4. The next stage of detailed planning can progress once the amendment takes effect, and subsequently works approval applications may be submitted to the NCA.