Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Authority

The Planning and Land Authority is an agency of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, which advises the Minister for Planning, currently Andrew Barr.

The Authority states that under the "ACT Planning and Land Act 2002", [cite web
title = Planning and Land Act 2002
publisher = Australasian Legal Information Institute
url = http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/pala2002143/
accessdate = 2006-11-15 ] it is required to:
*administer the Territory Plan; [cite web
title = Territory Plan
publisher = ACT Planning and Land Authority
url = http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tplan/index.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-15 ]
*continually assess the Territory Plan and propose amendments as necessary;
*plan and regulate the development of land;
*advise on planning and land policy, including the broad spatial planning framework for the ACT;
*implement sustainable transport planning;
*maintain the digital cadastral database;
*make available land information;
*grant, administer, vary and end leases on behalf of the Executive;
*grant licenses over unleased Territory land;
*decide applications for approval to undertake development;
*regulate the building industry;
*make orders under the ACT "Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991", part 6 (approvals and orders); [cite web
title = Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991
publisher = Australasian Legal Information Institute
url = http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/laea1991281/
accessdate = 2006-11-15 ]
*provide planning services, including services to entities outside the ACT;
*review its own decisions;
*provide administrative support and facilities for the Planning and Land Council;
*ensure community consultation and participation in planning decisions; and
*promote public education and understanding of the planning process, including by providing easily accessible public information and documentation on planning and land use.

The Authority states that it performs its functions independently, free from day-to-day political influences. However, in practice under the former Minister for Planning, Simon Corbell, the Authority often followed direct instruction from the Minister. [cite web
title = Annual Report 2005-06
publisher = ACT Planning and Land Authority
url = http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/publications/annualreport/AR-2005-2006.pdf
accessdate = 2006-11-15 ] [cite web
title = Statement of Planning Intent
publisher = ACT Planning and Land Authority
url = http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/aboutus/statements/intent.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-15 ]

External links

* [http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/ ACT Planning and Land Authority's web site]

References