Planning Minister Chris Steel said both projects would provide significant benefits to the Canberra community. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Two significant ACT health projects have received Territory Priority Project (TPP) status, paving the way for them to be fast-tracked for delivery.
The Northside Hospital Project and Inner South Health Centre are the first TPPs declared under the new Planning Act 2023. TPP status was designed to expedite the development of significant infrastructure and facilities that are deemed to benefit the community.
The declaration replaced the old call-in powers and means third parties cannot challenge such development projects.
“Each of these projects will still require a development application to be submitted with more detailed designs for the community to provide their comments,” Planning Minister Chris Steel said.
“We have an independent planning assessment system here in the ACT, the Independent Territory Planning Authority, [and it] will take into account the views of the community as part of that assessment process when the DAs are notified.
“It’s really important to note that the environmental considerations and requirements – [such as] environment impact statements to be developed – are still part of the process and so those can’t be bypassed through a priority project process.”
Mr Steel said projects in the past had been delayed by up to 12 months due to third-party appeals, particularly public housing projects, and so the TPP declaration could prevent that from happening to these projects.
He was satisfied that both these health projects met the Planning Act’s criteria and represented “significant benefit” to Canberrans.
“Declaration of these projects as Territory Priorities simply provides greater certainty that construction of significant infrastructure can proceed without delay if approval is granted,” he said.
“The community will be able to provide their comments on the projects again once development applications are notified, as part of the independent planning assessment process led by the Territory Planning Authority.”
Both projects were open for consultation before the TPP declarations were made, with the Northside Hospital Project receiving five submissions and the Inner South Health Centre receiving 10.
The Inner South Health Centre is proposed to be built behind the Griffith shops (on blocks 33, 34 and 39 in section 78), and the Territory plan would need to be amended for that to happen.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said all consultation feedback would be taken on board.
“Unsurprisingly, people had comments about parking, about traffic, about what services would be delivered, and about potential design of the building itself,” she said.
A Draft Major Plan Amendment (DPA‑06) proposing rezoning the area to a Community Facility Zone to enable development of the health centre has been referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning for consideration.
It’s hoped the centre will provide oral health services, pathology collection, post-acute care, rapid access clinics, and chronic disease management services.
If the major plan amendment is approved by the Legislative Assembly, it will still be subject to further consultation processes.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the TPP declarations demonstrated the government’s commitment to expand and modernise both community-based and acute health services.
“Both of these new facilities will make it easier for Canberrans to access care close to home, support our existing network of hospitals and community health centres, and help ensure the health system can meet the needs of a growing city,” she said.
The Territory Planning Priority Declarations for the two projects, along with more information on the declaration process, are available here.
More information on the major plan amendment process and DPA-06 are available on the ACT Planning website.
