President – Christine Lawrence
Vice-President – Cathy Banwell
Treasurer – Debbie Morrissey
Secretary – Beth Stone
Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
Territory Plan Section
GPO Box 158
Canberra, ACT 2601
[email protected]
Comments on the Planning and Development (Draft Variation No 348) Consultation Notice 2016
The ACT Equestrian Association wishes to comment on the current proposal to include Active Living in the
Territory Plan. The ACT Equestrian Association Inc (ACTEA) is a recognised umbrella organisation
representing 20 affiliated sporting and recreational horse riding groups in Canberra and the local region.
ACTEA promotes the needs of the equestrian community to government and the community, works to
ensure equestrian activities have access to suitable facilities for all disciplines and supports its affiliates with
effective communication on significant activities and issues.
ACTEA applauds the government's desire to engage the population in a more active lifestyle. However, it is
very concerned about proposals which threaten the amenity and safety of horse riders in this city simply by
ignoring our existence. We would like to make it very clear that we have no argument with the concept of
Active Travel and no wish to involve ourselves in discussions about rules governing residential, or
commercial areas or matters relating to public transport in and between urban areas. The proposed
variations however extend to public open space, urban parks and new suburban development and it is in
this area, of Active Living, that we have concerns. Both the Discussion Paper and the Draft Variation are
predicated on the assumption that Canberrans only interact with recreational spaces on two feet or a pair
of wheels.
Horse Riding in Canberra
There are estimated to be around 2,500 recreational horses in the ACT. The majority of these are owned by
women across a wide age range. Based on a Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation report
of 2001 it is estimated that recreational equestrian activities contributed around $25 million to the ACT
economy annually.
There is an equestrian network in Canberra's urban spaces that consists of connected trails between
Belconnen Pony Club in the north, Duntroon horse paddocks in the east and Lions Youth Haven on Kambah
Pool Road in the south and Rose Cottage horse paddocks in the east which encompasses 16 government
horse holding paddocks, 10 private agistment centres, 4 Pony Clubs and the Equestrian Park event facility
at Curtin.
The links between these places are maintained through a combination of the Bicentennial National Trail,
which enters Canberra at Mulligans Flat Road and exits via Namadgi National Park, and a system of
connecting horse trails through and around open space and nature reserves. Most of it is clearly marked on
the UBD Street Directory. This equestrian system is constantly under threat by decisions made by
government agencies who do not take account of existing users of public spaces and do not look for
opportunities to extend possibilities for horse riding. Some examples:
1.
There was once an equestrian route along the southern bank of the Molonglo River between the
low level river crossing below Scrivener Dam and Clos Bridge. This linked Equestrian Park to the
Bicentennial National Trail and what is now the Arboretum. A bitumen path was built on top of this track
without any consultation with local equestrians and it is now a cycle race track dangerous to horses.
2.
Despite all our warnings about safety, the government routed the Centenary Trail for bikes and
walkers via horse paddocks, on parts of the route of the Bicentennial National Trail and through
underpasses used by equestrians. Four years later we are still awaiting the installation of promised safety
signage.
3.
The Discussion Paper uses the suburb of Crace as a good example of urban design:
Open space is integral to the suburb’s design, with a connected network of walking and cycling
paths within Crace, that build on the central linear hilltop naturalised park that provides
linkages to parks, local playgrounds and a community garden.
Despite existing equestrian trails and agistment areas relatively close to Crace no plans for inclusion and
extension of equestrian trails to and through the suburb of Crace were made. To our mind Crace is
nowhere near good open space design.
ACT Government Commitments to Equestrian Infrastructure
ACTEA has done its best to engage with the government about equestrian infrastructure and since 2012 has
entered into two memoranda with the aim of protecting and promoting safe equestrian recreation in the
Territory:
Memorandum of Understanding Between Territory and Municipal Services Directorate and the
Bicentennial National Trail Ltd and the ACT Equestrian Association - January 2012, aims to retain the
integrity and continuity of the BNT in the ACT. While a great deal of the BNT lies to the north and west of
urban Canberra, parts of it traverse urban open space in Gungahlin and around 20km of marked trail
traverses central Canberra between Pegasus Riding for the Disabled in Higgins and Narrabundah Hill in
Duffy. The official BNT campsite is at Equestrian Park in Curtin.
Memorandum of Understanding Between the ACT Government and the ACT Equestrian Association - May
2014 recognises that equestrian activities are part of the social fabric of the ACT. The purpose of the MOU
is to promote a more integrated approach to planning for and managing existing and future equestrian
infrastructure. The MOU supports:
 maintenance of existing trails as a safe connected network
 maintenance of the Bicentennial National Trail
 inclusion of equestrian trails in the design of new suburbs where trails can be extended and
improved
 mapping of existing equestrian trails similarly to those for walking and cycling
In addition The Chief Minister’s Statement regarding Equestrian Infrastructure of October 2016 commits to
full and comprehensive consultation on master planning including adoption of a concept plan that:




links equestrian trails, safely, to existing facilities including the Bicentennial National Trail,
Equestrian Park Curtin, pony club grounds, government horse paddocks and private agistment
centres;
closes the disconnect between the Molonglo River corridor and Stromlo Forest Park;
provides for inclusion of equestrian access through new urban development in Canberra; and
includes specific provisions and infrastructure including signage to enable equestrians continued
safe access through existing urban areas such as public open space and shared underpasses on
major roads.
How Recreational Horse Riding can be incorporated into the Draft Variation
ACTEA believes that the ACT planners should acknowledge that horse riders share the city's public open
space, street verges, road crossings and bridges with walkers and cyclists and their needs should be
incorporated as appropriate in planning instruments.
Safety in shared spaces is a significant issue for us and it is of great concern when planning documents
specifically target the amenity of other users of such spaces without any recognition of our existence or
planning for our safety in shared spaces.
Based on the commitments made by the government in the documents listed above and the six principles
underpinning the proposed changes to the Territory Plan, namely:
a) providing connectivity between uses and activity nodes
b) preserving open space
c) encouraging mixed land use and density
d) ensuring public places are safe and attractive for all
e) providing supportive infrastructure that encourages regular physical activity
f) ensuring environments promote social inclusion, and are equitable and where practicable are
accessible by all ACTEA proposes the attached amendments to Draft Variation No 348.
Christine Lawrence
President
ACT Equestrian Association
2 February 2017
Attachment 1
Proposed Amendments
Planning and Development (Draft Variation No 348) Consultation Notice 2016
Notifiable instrument NI2016—667
PAGE 7
2.3.2 Zone objectives
Key policy outcomes to be achieved range from encouraging active living and active travel to attractive, safe
and well-lit pedestrian environments, and safe pedestrian, equestrian and cycle access.
PAGE 8
2.3.6 Estate Development Code
This draft variation seeks to amend the rules and criteria in the Estate Development Code to prioritise active
transport, ensure accessibility of land uses by active transport and support the development of attractive
streets and public places. The proposed changes would incorporate concepts relating to active landscapes and
public places, walking, horse riding, cycling and public transport, as well as the provision of well-lit access.
PAGE 16
3.1.6 Variation to the Parks and Recreation Zones Objective
12. Part 7.1 – PRZ1 Urban Open Space Zone Objective
Insert
g) Provide safe pedestrian and cycling and equestrian access to urban open space to promote active living.
13. Part 7.1 – PRZ2 Restricted Access Recreation Zone Objective
Insert
e) Provide safe pedestrian, equestrian and cycling access to recreation facilities to promote active living.
PAGE 30
3.1.15 Variation to the Estate Development Code

Part 16.1 – Estate Development Code ; Element 4: Public Realm; Item 4.1 Network; Criterion C23
Substitute
Network Criteria: opportunities for recreational facilities, including facilities for pedestrians, equestrians and
cyclists.