Impact track development applications:

• are considered against the Territory Plan and an Environmental Impact Statement (unless exempted by the Minister); and
• undergo the broadest level of assessment compared to other tracks.

Examples are:

• constructing a major dam;
• constructing a major road, light rail line or other linear transport corridor; and
• clearing a significant area of native vegetation.

 This is not a complete list of all possible impact track developments.

What is an impact track DA

  A development application is considered an impact track development proposal if:

• it meets the criteria in the relevant impact  track development table of the Territory Plan;
• it is of a kind mentioned in Schedule 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2007;
• the Minister makes a declaration under section 124 of the Planning and Development Act  2007 in relation to the proposal; or
• it is considered one under relevant legislation,  such as the Environment Protection and  Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth).

Development assessment process

The following diagram outlines the development assessment  process for impact track development applications.

Entity referrals

Entity advice may be supplied with the  development application at the time it is lodged, or plans or other information as required by the entity may be submitted with the development application for us to refer to the entity.

If entity advice is provided in writing at  the time the development application is lodged:

• it must have been given less than six months before the lodgement date; and
• the application does not need to be referred if we are satisfied that the applicant has adequately consulted with the entity.

Public notification

Impact track development applications must be publicly notified and will always undergo the major notification process.

Further information requests

We may ask an applicant for further information that is essential to assess a development application at any time.

The request must: 

• be in writing; and
• advise the applicant by when the information  must be provided – 20 working days unless otherwise prescribed.

If we request further information within 10 days from the lodgement date, the deadline for making a decision on the development application can be extended by the number of days it takes the applicant to provide the information.

What is considered during assessment

The following is a summary of what a decision-maker must consider when assessing an impact track development application:

• the relevant Code of the Territory Plan;
• suitability of the land for the development;
• all representations;
• entity advice;
• a plan of management for any public land;
• probable impact of the development, including environmental impact;
• completed Environmental Impact Statement for the proposal; and
• conclusions of any inquiry about an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposal.

When an impact track cannot be approved

An impact track development application must not be approved:

• unless an Environmental Impact Statement has been completed, or this requirement has been exempted by the Minister; or
• if the proposal is inconsistent with:   
  
  • the Statement of Strategic Directions of the Territory Plan;
  • any land management agreement for the land, if it is in a rural lease;
• the related advice of the Conservator of Flora  and Fauna, if the proposal will affect a registered tree or declared site; or
• any advice given by an entity, unless the decision-maker is satisfied that any applicable guidelines and any realistic alternative to the proposed development has been considered and the decision is consistent with the objects of the Territory Plan.

Assessment timeframes

The statutory time period for making a decision on an impact track development application is:

• 30 working days after the lodgement date if no representations are made; or
• 45 working days after the lodgement date if representations are made.

A development application is not considered lodged until full payment of fees is made.