Planning Act 2023

The territory planning authority has the following functions:

to prepare and administer the territory plan;

to continually review the territory plan, propose amendments and consider amendments initiated by proponents and the Minister, as necessary;

to plan and regulate the development of land;

to advise on planning and land policy, including the broad spatial planning framework for the ACT and the achievement of desired future planning outcomes;

to promote and implement the planning strategy and district strategies;

to promote high‑quality design and good planning outcomes;

to maintain the digital cadastral database under the Districts Act 2002;

to make available land information;

to grant, administer, vary and end leases on behalf of the Executive;

to grant licences over unleased land;

to decide applications for approval to undertake development;

to make controlled activity orders under part 12.3 (Controlled activity orders) and take other compliance and enforcement action under this Act and other territory laws;

to provide planning services, including services to entities outside the ACT;

to review its own decisions and participate in external review processes;

to provide opportunities for participation in planning and decision‑making processes;

to promote public education about, and understanding of, the planning system, including by providing easily accessible public information and documentation on planning and land use.

The territory planning authority may exercise any other function given to the authority under this Act, another territory law or a Commonwealth law.

Note A provision of a law that gives an entity (including a person) a function also gives the entity powers necessary and convenient to exercise the function (see Legislation Act, s 196).

The territory planning authority must exercise its functions, if relevant—

in accordance with the object of this Act; and

taking into account the principles of good planning; and

taking into consideration the statement of planning priorities made by the Minister.