Territory Planning Authority
ACEPDcustomerservices@act.gov.au

To whom it may concern

Re. The proposal to add lease purposes to 62.4 hectares of Majura Block 680 (DA202544671)

Friends of Grasslands (FOG) is a community group dedicated to the conservation of grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia - natural temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands. FOG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation of these ecosystems, and carries out surveys and on-ground work. FOG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.

Figure 7 of the East Canberra District Strategy shows almost all of Majura Block 680 is one or another form of 'sensitive ecological community' while the remainder is part of the ‘urban ACT ecological network’. The southern half of this figure is reproduced for convenience in the Enclosure.

FOG recognise no additional lease purpose is proposed for the portion of Majura Block 680 that is a ‘protected conservation area’ along the Molonglo River; however, the District Strategy shows the rest, the 62.4 hectares area that is the subject of DA202544671, is part of what is described as the protected blue-green‑ network “vital in providing clean air, water and visual amenity to suburbs, serving as native plant and animal habitat and supporting liveability and community wellbeing”[1]. Through Figure 7, the District Strategy forecasts no change to the protection of Majura Block 680 at any time before 2038.  

ACTmapi shows the southern half of Majura Block 680 includes ‘ACT Grassland’ while the northern half includes large patches of ‘Potential Threatened Woodland’, most likely Southern Tableland Grassy Woodlands (PCT 16.1.1). FOG believe the block would include patches of ecological communities recognised and listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

FOG note the northern portion of Majura Block 680 appears to have a high proportion of hollow-bearing trees. The ‘loss of native hollow-bearing trees’ is a threatening process listed under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. The loss of these critical landscape features would harm woodland bird and other species.

No justification has been provided for adding any lease purpose that would be inconsistent with the retention of the sensitive ecological communities on Majura Block 680. We do not understand how nor why development being considered at all in this location. Rather than encouraging the proponent’s desire for development, the Government needs to stand firm and realise responsible environmental protection intention set out in your Directorate’s District Strategy. FOG considers it would set a very poor precedent indeed for the Authority in particular and the Government in general to allow every form of development allowable automatically in the NUZ1 (Broadacre) zone, i.e., without a detailed ecological survey or consistency with considered intent.

FOG recommend no lease purpose is added to any portion of Majura block 680. If in principle that is not accepted, then an ecological survey ought to be required and, if any portion at all is to be subject to any additional lease purpose, it be only that portion(s) that is not ecologically sensitive.

Yours sincerely,

SIGNED

Jamie Pittock

President, Friends of Grasslands

14 January 2026

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[1] ACT Government (2023) East Canberra District Strategy, p. 20

[2] ACT Government (ibid), Figure 7 on p. 13 (Extract). The Legend has been rearranged and the red rectangles added.

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Enclosure: Figure 7 of the East Canberra District Strategy[2] showing the approximate location of Majura Block 680