Territory Priority Project

Territory Priority Projects open for consultation

Developments that are proposed for a Territory Priority Project declaration are required to go through a consultation process.

You can make a submission during the consultation period as to whether these developments should receive a Territory Priority Project declaration.

View Territory Priority Projects currently open for consultation

What is a Territory Priority Project?

A Territory Priority Project (TPP) is defined in section 216 of the Planning Act 2023 (the Act) as a development proposal that is declared to be a TPP, or one that relates to light rail.

A TPP declaration is where the Chief Minister and Planning Minister jointly declare that a proposal is a territory priority project.

A declaration is made if the Chief Minister and Planning Minister are satisfied that the proposal meets all of the following criteria under the Act:

would achieve a major government policy outcome that is of significant benefit to the people of the ACT; and
would help achieve the desired future planning outcomes set out in the ACT Planning Strategy, a relevant District Strategy, the Territory Plan or any relevant zone; and
is for significant infrastructure or facilities that are of significant benefit to the people of the ACT; and
Note: Significant infrastructure or facilities includes community, social and public housing projects of any scale.
sufficient consultation has occurred.

How does the TPP declaration process work?

A TPP declaration must be made before a development application (DA) for a proposal is submitted. The declaration process is provided in section 218 of the Act.

The TPP declaration process does not apply to the following proposals:

Where it relates to light rail. These proposals are already defined as a TPP and can proceed straight to the DA stage.
Where it is on designated land. These proposals do not require a DA with the Territory Planning Authority (as they have works approval by the National Capital Authority).

The TPP declaration process is summarised in the following steps:

Step 1 – Proponent submits TPP declaration request

A proponent can request the Minister consider their development proposal to be a TPP.

The following information should be provided with the request:

Proponent and lessee contact details. Also, a letter of authorisation from the lessee for the proponent to act on their behalf, if the proponent is not the lessee.
The block, section and suburb of the proposal.
A description of the development proposal.
An indicative site plan is optional but desirable.
A statement of claims against each of the required criteria for a TPP declaration under section 218(1)(a) to (1)(c) of the Act.
A description of the major plan amendment (MPA) and supporting report if the proposal requires a MPA. Refer to the Amendments to the Territory Plan page for requirements for a supporting report.

Step 2 – Assessment of proposal against criteria

When the request for a TPP declaration is received, the Authority will do an initial assessment of whether it meets the required criteria under section 281 of the Act. This includes referral to relevant agencies.

Step 3 – Authority advises Planning Minister about TPP declaration request

The Authority will advise the Planning Minister that the request for the TPP declaration was received and seek agreement to proceed to public consultation.

Step 4 – Public consultation

Once the Planning Minister has agreed, the TPP draft declaration and if required, a supporting report for a MPA, will be published on the Authority’s website inviting comments from the public for a period of at least 15 working days. If a MPA is required, the National Capital Authority will also be invited to comment during the public consultation period. The MPA process can commence at the same time as the TPP declaration process.

Step 5 – Consultation closes

Comments from the public and if required, the National Capital Authority, will be considered by the Authority.

Step 6 – Authority advises Chief Minister and Minister with consultation report

The Authority will consolidate comments received and provide the consultation report and proposed TPP declaration to the Planning Minister and Chief Minister for consideration and to jointly declare the project as a TPP.

Step 7 – Presentation to the Legislative Assembly

As soon as practicable after making the TPP declaration, the Minister must present a statement to the Legislative Assembly setting out the reasons for making the TPP declaration. Timing of the presentation will depend on the Legislative Assembly sitting calendar. The Legislative Assembly may then, within 2 sitting days, approve or refuse the TPP declaration. If the Assembly does not pass a resolution in that timeframe, it is taken to be approved.

Step 8 – TPP declaration notified and commenced

The TPP declaration commences after it is approved by the Legislative Assembly and made public on the Planning website. The DA can only be submitted for the TPP after the declaration commences.

What does it mean for the MPA process if a proposal is a TPP?

Will a TPP declaration fast track the MPA process?

If a proposal is declared a TPP, there is the option for the MPA process to be fast tracked. The 2 stages this can occur is:

Public consultation stage: if the MPA is publicly notified at the same time as the TPP draft declaration, the MPA is not required to be notified again (standard consultation on a MPA is minimum 30 working days).
Standing Committee inquiry: if the relevant Assembly Standing Committee decide to undertake an inquiry into the MPA, the Minister can request that the inquiry be completed in 3 months, rather than the standard 6 months.

What does it mean for the DA process if a proposal is a TPP?

Will a TPP declaration fast track the DA decision?

No. If a proposal is declared a TPP, the DA will follow the normal process, including public notification and referral to entities for advice. More information is available in the Guide to Development Applications (PDF 771.7 KB).

Planning Minister decides the DA

The decision on a DA for a TPP is made by the Planning Minister, who can make additional approval decisions that the Authority cannot make.

The Minister can approve a DA where it is contrary to advice of the Conservator of Flora and Fauna on whether the proposal will:

affect registered and other significant trees, but only if:
it does not involve a protected matter under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) or Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT);
they have considered the applicable desired outcomes in the Territory Plan;
it had an environmental impact statement, they have considered any reasonable alternative development options; and
it will significantly improve the planning outcomes to be achieved.
have a significant adverse environmental impact on a protected matter, but only if:
it is consistent with the offsets policy; and
it would provide a substantial public benefit.

Appeal rights

A decision on a DA for a TPP is exempt from third party appeal in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). This means that stakeholders such as the community or representors on the DA are not able to make an application to ACAT for review.

Despite this, the TPP declaration or an associated decision on a DA, environmental impact statement or lease can be taken to the ACT Supreme Court. There is a 2-month timeframe to commence these proceedings.

Territory Priority Project Declarations – open for consultation

There are no results currently available for this section.

Territory Priority Project Declarations – closed for consultation

Inner South Health Centre – Griffith

The proposed Inner South Health Centre (to be located on the corner of Throsby Crescent and Throsby Lane in Griffith) has been identified as a potential Territory Priority Project (TPP) under section 218 of the Planning Act 2023 (the Act).

The Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development, Chris Steel MLA, agreed that the proposed TPP Declaration could proceed to public consultation as it satisfies the criteria under section 218(1)(a) to (c) of the Act.

The proposed Territory Priority Project (TPP) Declaration for the Inner South Health Centre was open for public consultation from 7 October 2025 to 19 November 2025. Late comments were accepted until 10 December 2025.

This development proposal is also subject to a Draft Major Plan Amendment - Draft Major Plan Amendment (DPA-06).

Documents for consultation

Proposed TPP Declaration – Inner South Health Centre [PDF 622.0 KB]

Background papers

Background papers for Draft Major Plan Amendment 06 – Inner South Health Centre are available on the Major Plan Amendments webpage, under the heading "Draft Major Plan Amendment 06 – Inner South Health Centre"

Northside Hospital Project (including Early and Enabling Works)

The Northside Hospital Project including Early and Enabling Works has been identified as a potential Territory Priority Project (TPP) under section 218 of the Planning Act 2023 (the Act). The project will deliver a new, purpose-built public hospital at the existing North Canberra Hospital campus at Bruce Section 1 Block 4.

The proposed Territory Priority Project (TPP) Declaration for the Northside Hospital Project including Early and Enabling Works was open for public consultation from 6 November 2025 to 27 November 2025.