Introduction

P L A N I T Strategic have been engaged by Capital Battens to prepare a draft planning report to seek ACT Government support for a variation to the Territory Plan which would permit the relocation of Capital Battens to Block 586 and 736 in the Majura Valley. The draft Planning Report will respond to a scope issued by the ACT Government Planning Authority.

The Proponent

Capital Battens is a local business currently operating a purpose built sawmill that produces pine roof tile battens in Fyshwick. They are the major supplier of pine roof tile battens for the Australian east coast housing market, being the largest and only dedicated pine batten manufacturer within Australia. In addition, by-products such as sawdust, bark and woodchip are sold throughout the region to ensure maximum recovery is achieved from each log. Capital Battens has a close working relationship with the ACT Government and Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) as they are ACT Forestry’s primary sawlog customer.

The mill at Fyshwick has been a stable manufacturing business operating in the ACT since the 1960’s. One of only a few manufacturing businesses in Canberra, Capital Battens supports the ACT region through the purchase of logs from the ACT Government, the employment of 24 full time employees at the mill and through multiple local trades who maintain the mill.

Need for this Proposal

Capital Battens’ site in Fyshwick must be vacated by the end of 2025 as their sub-lease agreement is set to expire, and they need a new site for a modern sawmill.

Blocks 586 & 736 Majura have been identified as the preferred location, following consideration of other alternative sites in the ACT. However, the proposed use (for Sawmill) is not currently permissible under the Territory Plan zone for the area and a variation to the Territory Plan would be required for this use. The ACT Government have issued a scope for a planning study to support the case for a variation to the Territory Plan.

The Site

The site is located in the Majura Valley and the Blocks front Majura Road between Range Lane and Tambreet Street, near the Australian Federal Police Complex. This land is currently part of Parks and Conservation Services’ forestry estate and was planted with pine trees, harvested, then replanted some years ago, but they have failed.

To view the images in more detail, click here.

Possible Future Development

A new, modern sawmill development would include:

New hi-tech modern Sawmill inside a large rectangular shed
Enclosed log debarker at one end of the mill feeding logs directly into the sawline
Small 2 storey building containing office, amenities and workshop/sawshop.
Hardstand log truck unloading area with log storage areas.
Hardstand b-double parking with loading and turnaround areas.
Hardstand batten storage area.
Hardstand chip, sawdust, bark and boiler fuel storage bunkers.
Staff and visitor parking area.

Territory Plan Variation Process

A variation to the Territory Plan is not a development proposal, but if successful will provide the future opportunity for this development on the site.

The planning report will undertake assessments to investigate whether the site is suitable for the proposed use to recommend to the Territory Government that a variation to the Territory Plan should be undertaken. The timeframes for this process typically take between 18 months to 3 years.

The planning report will respond to a scope received from the ACT government which identifies the issues that need to be addressed, these include:

Ecology;
Heritage;
Land use considerations;
Bushfire
Flooding
Contamination
Traffic and Transport
Noise
Visual character and amenity
Access
Air quality
Strategic planning context

A key component of the planning study is to undertake consultation with stakeholders, neighbours and the broader community, to explain the proposal and identify issues that need to be considered as part of this planning process.

Proposed Variation

The proposed plan variation would be to maintain the NUZ1 Broadacre zoning in the Territory Plan but introduce an additional merit track permissible use (Offensive industry, limited to sawmill) in the Majura District Precinct Map and Code.

While Sawmill is identified as a common use terminology for Offensive Industry in the Territory Plan, the current operation has been in existence in Fyshwick, for a long time and has not been the subject of environmental issues or complaints. A new sawmill would employ state of the art technology, site design and management to further minimise any impacts when compared to the current operation.

Consultation

Please provide your comments, feedback or questions on this proposal in the form below. We can also contact you with further updates and information about this proposal.

An online public consultation session will also be held on Tuesday 7 April at 7:00pm.

Click here to register for the Consultation Session (held via Zoom)

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