The ACT Planning and Land Authority is the ACT Government's statutory agency responsible for planning for the future growth of Canberra in partnership with the community.

Responsibilities

The Authority aims to promote sustainable, attractive, safe and well-designed urban, residential and rural environments in the ACT. It has responsibility for strategic and land planning, lease administration, land information, development and building regulation. A full list of responsibilities can be found by viewing the individual legislation that the Authority administers.

Authority functions

Under the Planning and Development Act 2007  the Authority is required to:

• administer the Territory Plan;
• 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;
• 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;
• provide planning services, including services to entities outside the ACT;
• review its own decisions;
• 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.

Other key roles

Chief Surveyor

• determines Survey Practice Guidelines, in consultation with the Survey Practice Advisory Committee;
• maintains a register of surveyors and determines their eligibility to be registered;
• investigates and resolves complaints against surveyors;
• audits the work of surveyors;
• consults on major policy issues affecting the practice of surveying;
• consults and reports to the Minister before Ministerial directions about the practice of surveying are made;
• certifies Deposited Plans;
• maintains an electronic database of information about land in the ACT; and
• verifies the measurement of length in the ACT.

The Chief Surveyor is also a member of the Federal Electoral Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory, Electoral Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly and represents the ACT in forums concerned with surveyors and the practice of surveying.

Construction Occupations Registrar

The Construction Occupations Registrar, Craig Simmons:

• oversights the administration of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 and its operational Acts;
• regulates the building industry;
• audits the work of construction occupations;
• investigates complaints against and disciplines construction occupation professionals; and
• oversights inspection of building, electrical, plumbing, drainage and gas-fitting work.