Governing the City State - Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ...

o Completion Bond – Bond taken as security to ensure completion of developmentworks by the date in the Development Permit; ando Combined Uncompleted Works and Maintenance Bond – taken as security to ensurecompletion of outstanding works when early endorsement of Survey Plans is soughtprior to practical completion.As a result of efficient procedures (including in relation to parallel processes for inspections),and the security of significant bonds, certificates of occupancy and registered title are able tobe issued on the same day. The Review recommends, in the context of plans for greaternumbers of unit titled properties in the future, the Government adopt equivalent processes asa matter of urgency in the ACT.Critical InfrastructureA number of Australian states have specific legislation to permit timely and well coordinatedassessment of infrastructure development judged to be of critical public importance. There isno assessment legislation specific to critical infrastructure in the ACT. This situation maybecome more significant in the near future in relation to projects such as the Majura Parkway,further stages in the Molonglo land release, data centres, Commonwealth defence forcefacilities, other major road upgrades etc.Currently, proposed critical infrastructure developments would be assessed by ACTPLAunder the Planning Act, often through the impact assessment track. Under this Act fixeddocumentation, timeframes and other procedural requirements apply for application andassessment and the matter is subject to ACAT merit review. Where the Planning Ministerexercises the option to “call in” a proposed development, the Minister becomes the decisionmaker and there is no right of merit review. Timeframes and procedures remain largelyunaltered. The project may also require assessment, referral advice and/or authorisation byother agencies under other legislation such as the Environment Protection Act 1997, HeritageAct 2004, Tree Protection Act 2005, and Nature Conservation Act 1980.New critical infrastructure development type legislation along the lines of those adopted byother jurisdictions would enhance the effective and timely delivery of critical infrastructurefor the ACT. It would enable the government of the day to resolve competing requirementsin different pieces of legislation which may be likely to either frustrate or delay importantprojects.The critical infrastructure process would only be available for construction of Government orpublic infrastructure to ensure timely delivery in the broad public interest. In addition to thepublic infrastructure test, other criteria could include significant economic, social, cultural orenvironmental importance to the Territory and importance to achieving public policyobjectives or strategies.Administrative Arrangements Changes: 194