Glossary of Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terms

ACT Government

The body politic established under the Australian Capital Territory (Self- Government) Act 1988. Includes the Executive of that body, and agencies established by it, whether by enactment or otherwise.

Amendment of the National Capital Plan

A function of the NCA is to keep the National Capital Plan under constant review and to propose amendments to it as necessary. The statutory provisions for amending the Plan are set out in sections 14 to 22 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. The amendment process includes public consultation. After approval by the Minister, amendments are subject to disallowance by either House of the Australian Parliament.

APS

Australian Public Service

Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988

Australian Government legislation that provides the overarching legal framework for planning and land management in the Australian Capital Territory.

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory was created to house the nation’s capital, Canberra.

AWA

Australian Workplace Agreement

Central National Area

Includes the Parliamentary Zone and its setting, Lake Burley Griffin and its foreshores, Government House, the Australian National University, the Australian Defence Force Academy, Duntroon, Campbell Park, Canberra International Airport and the Royal Australian Air Force Base at Fairbairn.

Also included are the diplomatic areas of Yarralumla, O’Malley and West Deakin, and individual diplomatic sites in the suburbs of Red Hill, Forrest and Deakin.

City to the Lake

An ACT Government strategy to repurpose under-utilised land in central Canberra to provide a direct link from the City to Lake Burley Griffin, creating a new active waterfront foreshore in West Basin.

CLC

Common Law Contract

Designated Area

An area of land specified as having the special characteristics of the National Capital as provided for by section 10(1) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. All ‘works’ in Designated Areas are subject to approval by the NCA (see also Works).

Detailed conditions of planning design and development

Section 10(2)(c) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 states that the National Capital Plan may specify areas of land that have the special characteristics of the National Capital to be Designated Areas. The Act provides for the Plan to set out detailed conditions of planning, design and development in Designated Areas and to specify the priorities in carrying out planning, design, and development in Designated Areas.

Development Approval

An approval for works as defined in the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988.

Development Control Plan (DCP)

A plan prepared to guide and control development including design, siting, scale, purpose, timing and phasing, construction, landscaping and other relevant matters. Section 10(2)(d) of the Act details that Development Control Plans may be required in areas where ‘Special Requirements’ apply and may include maps, drawings, photographs, specifications and written statements. A Development Control Plan may apply to National Land or Territory Land sites (or areas) provided they are not included in Designated Areas.

Diplomatic precincts

Those areas of Yarralumla, West Deakin and O’Malley that have diplomatic uses permissible under the National Capital Plan.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Government legislation that provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places.

ESD

Ecologically sustainable development

FOI

Freedom of information

Free and Independent Visitors (FIT)

These visitors are independent, planning their own travel, itinerary or route, without the assistance of a group tour, pre-arranged schedule or other group setting.

General Policy Plan – Australian Capital Territory

Describes the National Capital Open Space System beyond the metropolitan areas. It is supported by principles and policies in the National Capital Plan.

General Policy Plan – Metropolitan Canberra

Describes areas planned for urban development, non-urban, rural, the open space system and the primary road and public transport system indicative routes.

Griffin Plan/Legacy

The framework to realise the grand civic design envisaged by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.

GST

Goods and services tax

KPI

Key performance indicator

Lease and development conditions

Prepared for vacant land sites by the relevant planning authority before the sites are leased and developed. These conditions form the basis for considering development applications for approval.

Master Plans

Comprise area-specific policies intended to guide the planning, design and development of large site areas. Some Master Plans, once approved by the NCA, are given statutory effect by inclusion in the National Capital Plan.

National and Arterial Road Systems

Two separate road networks as defined in the National Capital Plan.

National Capital Authority

The Authority

National Capital Estate

National land designated as land required for the special purposes of Canberra as the National Capital, according to the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. This land includes the Parliamentary Zone, Lake Burley Griffin and parts of the foreshore, Anzac Parade and Diplomatic Estates in Yarralumla, Deakin and O’Malley.

National Capital Exhibition

The National Capital Exhibition tells the story of Canberra, Australia’s National Capital. Through interactive displays, the Exhibition illustrates Canberra’s vital role as a symbol of Federation.

National Capital Open Space System

The system of open space in the Territory comprising the hills, ridges and
buffer spaces that surround and frame the Urban Areas, Lake Burley Griffin, the river corridors, and the mountains and bushlands to the west of the Murrumbidgee River.

National Capital Plan

The Australian Government’s plan for the nation’s capital prepared and administered by the NCA in accordance with Part III of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988.

National Land

Used by, or on behalf of, the Australian Government. Some of that land is designated in writing by the Minister (under section 6(g) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988) as land required for the special purposes of Canberra as the National Capital. This land is managed by the NCA.

National road system

Provides the principal means of access between the National Capital and the state capitals, and between Canberra and the major national highways; or is designed for symbolic, formal, or National Capital purposes; or provides access to National Capital facilities and vantage points within the Territory; or is located on National Land declared under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. National roads include the Federal, Barton and Monaro highways, Canberra, Commonwealth and Northbourne avenues and State and Capital circles.

National significance

Section 9 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 sets out the object of the National Capital Plan, which is to ensure that Canberra and the Territory are planned and developed in accordance with their national significance. The National Capital Plan sets out matters of national significance in the planning and development of Canberra and the Territory.

NCA

National Capital Authority

Parliamentary Approval

Parliamentary Approval is required for works proposed within the Parliamentary Zone under the provisions of the Parliament Act 1974 or the Parliamentary Precincts Act 1988.

Parliamentary Precincts

An area of land specified by the Parliamentary Precincts Act 1988. Parliamentary Precincts are part of the Parliamentary Zone and consist of all land contained within (the inner side of) Capital Circle surrounding Parliament House.

Parliamentary Zone

An area of land specified as the Parliamentary Zone by the Parliament Act 1974. It consists of the area bounded by the southern edge of Lake Burley Griffin, Kings Avenue, State Circle and Commonwealth Avenue.

PBS

Portfolio budget statement

PGPA Act

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

PMAS

Performance Management and Appraisal Scheme

Special requirements

Those planning requirements as set out by section 10(2)(d) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. Developments in areas where special requirements apply must conform to a Development Control Plan unless otherwise specified in the National Capital Plan.

Temporary work

Work that is erected for a specific event and will be removed after the event has been held, under Regulation 2 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988.

Territory

Australian Capital Territory

Territory Land

Land administered by the ACT Government on behalf of the Australian Government. The classification of land as either Territory Land or National Land is provided for in the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 and relates entirely to land management and administration. The classification does not determine planning responsibilities, which are established separately under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 and are subsequently expressed through the National Capital Plan and the Territory Plan.

Territory Plan

The plan prepared and administered by the Territory planning authority under Part IV of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. The Territory Plan cannot be inconsistent with the National Capital Plan.

Territory Planning Authority

The planning body established under Part IV of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 in accordance with planning laws proclaimed under that Part by the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory.

The Authority

The Board of the National Capital Authority

The Lake

Lake Burley Griffin was named after Canberra’s designer, Walter Burley Griffin. The Lake is Canberra’s centrepiece with a significant number of national institutions and national public places located on or near its shores.

The Plan

The National Capital Plan made under Part III of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. See also National Capital Plan.

Variations to the Territory Plan

These are prepared in accordance with relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2007 (ACT).

Works

As defined in the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, works include: (a) construction, alteration, extension or demolition of buildings or structures (b) landscaping (c) tree-felling (d) excavations but excludes anything done inside buildings or structures.

Works Approval

See Development Approval.