Recommendation 1

The ACT Government should release specific guidance on obligations, expectations and best practice management of holding joint statutory and public sector roles.

Due: December 2024.

Led by the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.

Recommendation 2

Separating the role of Chief Planner from the responsibilities of the Director-General, EPSDD would deliver a better governance arrangement.

Due: 1 July 2024.

Outcome: Complete as outlined on the ACT Chief Planner appointed webpage.

Recommendation 3

The person holding the role of Chief Planner should not have the power to influence the appointment of the Conservator and Government Architect positions. Governance arrangements would be strengthened if appointments to the Conservator, EPA and Government Architect, all roles which are charged with providing frank and fearless advice to the Territory Planning Authority, sat with a Minister or an officer who did not also hold the role of Chief Planner.

Due: October 2024.

Outcome: Complete. The appointment of a long-term Chief Planner was finalised 1 July 2025.

Recommendation 4

Consideration should be given to using the Assessment Advisory Panel (AAP), to provide advice on the small number of matters that may deviate from entity advice. Relevant independent expert(s) should be invited to participate in the provision of this advice. Transparency would be improved if the advice provided by the AAP on matters which deal with deviating from entity advice was published.

Due: 1 July 2024

Outcome: Complete as outlined on the Assessment and Environment Advisory Panel (originally the Assessment Advisory Panel AAP) and development application reporting now live.

Recommendation 5

A strategic advisory body, that includes referral entities and those outside of the TPA that have relevant expertise, should be established to support achieving the Objects of the Act.

Due: October 2024.

Outcome: Complete. These are covered by existing arrangements within the ACT Government as outlined in the ACT Planning System Evaluation Framework.

Recommendation 6

The TPA governance framework should seek to encourage more opportunities for earlier collaboration across referral entities and other relevant bodies that interact with the Development Application (DA) processes and in policy settings including developing or reviewing guidelines.

Due: 1 July 2024

Outcome: Complete as outlined on the Territory Planning Authority webpage.

Recommendation 7

The TPA should prioritise transparency in its decision-making, including proactive release of data, accessible graphics and other information.

Due: 1 July 2024

Outcome: ACT planning system evaluation framework.

This should include:

  1. a governance framework that describes the different roles within the planning system and their relationship to each other; and the purpose and membership of governance committees.
  2. a dedicated section on the website relating to the TPA which clearly explains who is responsible for what, by (de-identified) positions.
  3. open disclosure of decision-making processes and which roles/expertise have inputs that support the outcomes-based decision making model. This should provide a clear and transparent understanding of accountability for activity and outcomes.
  4. open disclosure of decision-making criteria that will be applied if a decision is to deviate from entity advice.
    • Due: not yet specified
  5. publication of the Design Review Panel’s advice on projects and reasons for application approval if the proponent has not followed this advice.
    • Due: 1 July 2024.
    1. Outcome: Complete as outlined on the Territory Planning Authority webpage.
  6. aggregate data relating to entity advice; how often entity advice is deviated from; and which entity’s advice was not followed should be reported on the Development Application statistics page.
  7. separate annual reporting that provides a permanent record of data and other matters, including the TPA appearing in Column 2 (like the Conservator and Heritage Council) in any updated Annual Report Direction.
    • Due: 2025.

Recommendation 8

Consideration should be given to the Director-General of EPSDD being a prescribed referral entity for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Planning Regulations, given their responsibilities for the environment under current administrative arrangements.

Due: October 2024.

Outcome: Complete. The consideration of environmental impacts is addressed through existing arrangements with the establishment of the following prescribed referral entities as outlined on the After you apply webpage.