A plain English explanation of this ACT planning and property term.
Deep soil zone means an area of soil within a development that is unimpeded by buildings or structures below ground, and which has adequate dimensions to allow for the growth of healthy trees. Deep soil zones exclude basements, services, swimming pools, tennis courts and impervious surfaces including car parks, driveways, podium, and roof areas.
A deep soil zone is an area of genuine soil that is open to sufficient depth and width for healthy tree roots. It cannot have a basement, building, pool, driveway, car park, podium, roof or major underground structure occupying the soil below it. It is stricter than simply having a garden bed: a planter box or soil placed over a basement may support plants, but it is not a deep soil zone.