6 Glossary

ACT AND SUB-REGION PLANNING STRATEGY: Released in 1998, the strategy provides an integrated planning framework to guide regional development and resource management to a population of 560,000 by 2021. It forms the basis for the current intergovernment agreement on urban settlement in the sub-region.

AUSTRALIAN NOISE EXPOSURE FORECAST (ANEF): A scientific measure of aircraft noise exposure around aerodromes that is used to assess average community response to aircraft noise.

AVERAGE RECURRENCE INTERVAL (ARI): ARI (measured in years) is a term used to describe flood size. It is a means of describing how likely a flood is to occur in a given year. For example, a 100 year ARI flood is a flood that occurs or is exceeded on average once every 100 years.

BIODIVERSITY: The variability among living organisms from all sources, including land based and aquatic ecosystems, and the ecosystems of which they are part. These include diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.

BROWNFIELDS AREA: An area, usually of an industrial nature, which has been built on in the past, and is no longer used.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES: Facilities provided either by government or non-government agencies for the benefit of, and use of, the community (such as schools, churches, hospitals and theatres).

DWELLING: A building, or portion of a building where people live.

GREENFIELDS AREA: An area that has not previously been developed but is intended to be developed.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: Emissions into the atmosphere of gases that affect the temperature and climate of the earth's surface. The main greenhouse gases emitted due to human activity are carbon dioxide ( CO₂), methane ( CH₄) and nitrous oxide ( N₂O).

HIGH DENSITY HOUSING: Over 60 dwellings per hectare and generally five storeys or more high, for example apartment buildings.

HOUSEHOLD: One person or a group of people who usually live in the same dwelling and make common provision for living essentials.

INFILL: The construction of new buildings on previously undeveloped sites within established areas but not on public open space.

INTENSIFICATION: The increase of dwelling densities above that which was there previously, including infill and urban consolidation.

MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING: Generally between 25 to 60 dwellings per hectare and not usually more than three or four storeys in height. Examples are townhouses and terrace housing.

NATIONAL CAPITAL AUTHORITY (NCA): The NCA is the Commonwealth agency responsible for securing the Commonwealth’s continuing interest in the National Capital. Its planning jurisdiction applies throughout the Territory. It is responsible for works approval in the Designated Areas. National Capital aspects of Canberra include elements such as the inner hills and ridges, main avenues and approach routes to the city and the Central National Area.

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLAN: Prepared and administered by the NCA it establishes a broad framework for land use and development and its object is to ensure that Canberra and the Territory are planned and developed in accordance with their national significance.

SOCIAL HOUSING: Housing provided by Government (public housing) and community organisations (community housing).

SPRAWL: The generally low density and often uncoordinated expansion of urban areas.

TERRITORY PLAN: The ACT’s statutory land use plan, which is made up of the Territory Plan Map and the Written Statement and aims to manage land use change and development within the ACT in a manner consistent with strategic directions and in a way not inconsistent with the National Capital Plan.

URBAN AREA: The interface between the predominantly urban and non-urban areas at the edges of the city. It includes both leased and unleased lands.

URBAN CONSOLIDATION: The increase of dwelling densities within established areas over and above that which is already there through infill or redevelopment of existing buildings.

URBAN EDGE: The urban edge comprises a wide range of both urban and per urban spaces that include leased and unleased lands.

URBAN INTERFACE: The urban interface is the area of the urban edge where there is a greatest human use and greatest need for intervention to the landscape to reduce fire hazards to protect life and property.

URBAN OPEN SPACE: Areas that are set aside within the city boundaries for recreational uses with unrestricted public access, such as parks, playing fields, landscape buffers and community paths, but does not include National Parks or nature reserves.

URBAN RENEWAL: Urban renewal is defined as the revitalisation of established urban areas to provide for a greater range of housing, employment and social activities.