Canberra industrial land waits on Eastern Broadacre review

Why it matters

The Eastern Broadacre is named in the ACT Planning Strategy 2018 and the East Canberra District Strategy as an area for new industrial and job opportunities. The government’s Statement of Planning Priorities 2025-2028 also asks for the future industrial and services land needed in the Territory, including in the Eastern Broadacre, to be outlined.

Region Canberra reported on 30 July 2025 that Frank Giorgi, head of industrial at RWC Canberra, said the Territory was not releasing enough industrial land and that it was selling at a premium. The same report said only Hume and Jerrabomberra had seen land released, and that the tender for the assessment itself acknowledged no sustainable long-term industrial land pipeline. At that time the tender had a draft report due in September 2026 and a final report in April 2027.

The numbers

• 2014: the ACT and Australian governments agree to the strategic assessment under the EPBC Act.
• April 2024: draft reports go to the Australian Government.
• July 2024: feedback raises outdated survey data and mapping, so more studies follow, including striped legless lizard surveys from August to December 2025.
• 31 July 2026: the date the Legislative Assembly asked for release, by a resolution of April 2025. The project page says this would not be met, and offers status updates on the page instead.
• Early 2027: expected start of public exhibition, subject to the Australian Government agreeing.

The area contains critically endangered natural temperate grassland, the striped legless lizard and the grassland earless dragon, which is why the Commonwealth sign-off matters.

What has happened since

At the 24 July 2026 estimates hearing, Planning Minister Chris Steel was asked whether the work was on track for this term. He said yes, but that it depended on the Commonwealth agreeing. On the delay he said: “We did not expect them to come back with the comments that they did.”

In the answer provided to Jo Clay MLA, the Territory said it will consult First Nations people on the draft before it is released. It said specific consultation with traditional custodians will follow once a draft report is prepared.

What’s next

Updated draft reports are expected to be resubmitted to the Australian Government later in 2026. Watch for that resubmission and for any Commonwealth agreement to exhibit. Until the assessment is public, the Territory has not said how much of the area could be rezoned for industrial use, and we have not found a figure in these documents.

Separate Canberra industrial proposals, such as the Symonston business park application, are being assessed on their own track: see our coverage of the Symonston proposal.