Planning

The ACT Government through the ACT Planning and Land Authority provides a planning and land system that contributes to the orderly and sustainable development of the ACT in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2007. The Authority is required to achieve this objective by:

administering the Territory Plan;
planning and regulating the development of land;
advising on planning and land policy, including the broad spatial planning framework for the ACT;
administering, on behalf of the Executive, grants, variations and end leases;
regulating the building industry;
regulating the use of land in accordance with development approvals and lease provisions; and
promoting public education and understanding of the planning process, including the provision of easily accessible public information and documentation on planning and land use.

Strategic and operational issues to be pursued in 2010‑11 include:

1. planning system and other regulatory reforms:

continuing the review of land use policies under the Territory Plan to ensure they provide a contemporary framework for the continued enhancement, growth and development of the City;
continuing to work with Industry to further refine the newly implemented eDevelopment platform and ensure maximum take up of its on-line development application and building application lodgement and tracking capabilities;
investigating opportunities to build additional modules in the eDevelopment platform around case management and data warehousing, to further enhance management and reporting capacity; and
continuing reform of the technical regulation functions under the utilities legislation.

2. strategic planning initiatives:

continuing coordination of detailed planning and engineering investigations as part of the land release program, including facilitating land releases in Molonglo, Gungahlin and the East Lake area, to help ensure the Territory meets demand for new land;
delivering strategic ‘sustainable’ planning and design aimed at providing support to the Government’s climate change strategy, Weathering the Change, as well as being involved in climate change issues at the national level;
contributing to a whole of government conversation on the Sustainable Futures Program by continuing to engage with the community on the future direction and needs of the ACT, and evaluating the Canberra Spatial Plan in light of outcomes from this engagement;
providing enhanced strategic direction and an expanded inspection capability to the building and construction industry to achieve Government policies focussed on sustainable development and timely service delivery;
undertaking a full review of service levels, resource needs and funding mechanisms including fees and charges; and
continuing the Master Planning Program by focusing on Piallago, Erindale and Tuggeranong.