Australian Capital Territory
City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency (City Renewal Authority) Statement of Expectations 2017 
Notifiable instrument NI2017–426
made under the  
City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act 2017, section 17 (Ministerial statement of expectations)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency (City Renewal Authority) Statement of Expectations 2017.
2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the day after its notification day. 
3	Statement of Expectations
I make the Statement of Expectations as provided in the schedule.

Andrew Barr MLA
Chief Minister
13 July 2017
Schedule
(see s3)

ACT Government 

Statement of Expectations 2017 

City Renewal Authority

This Statement of Expectations (the Statement) is made by the ACT Chief Minister in accordance with section 17 (1)(a) of the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act 2017 (the Act). In accordance with section 17(1)(b) of the Act the Statement will be given to the board of the City Renewal Authority (the Authority).
The purpose of this document is to set out the Government’s requirements and priorities in relation to urban renewal in the City Renewal Precinct, which spans Dickson, Northbourne Avenue, Haig Park, the City and West Basin. The Statement includes the Government’s expectations of the Authority in delivering the ACT Government’s requirements and priorities.
Significantly, this statement forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to good public sector governance, and ensures effective management of significant land resources under the stewardship of the Authority. 
Vision and objectives
The challenge of providing sustainable, liveable and attractive cities for the future, while responsibly meeting growing demands for critical infrastructure and basic services is one faced by Government’s across Australia and more broadly by the global community. Throughout history, city states have been centres of innovation and influence, prestige and power, economic dynamism and inventiveness, as well as of artistic and cultural endeavour.  
The Government’s 2050 Vision for Canberra to be recognised as one of the world’s great innovation, creative and arts cities while remaining the world’s most liveable city gives expression and focus to the themes that will drive and shape Canberra in the future.
The ACT Government has outlined its vision for Canberra this way:
‘the path to the Canberra of the future is marked out by transformational urban renewal and innovation, underpinned by the light rail network and the city to the lake vision, all founded on design excellence. This cannot be an exercise in the bland and boring building of “boxes”; it has to be about creating buildings that make statements about this city and excite interest in those living and working in them or just walking past them. They should be destinations as well as useful and modern spaces. They should be able to stand the test of time and have people still talking about them in 50 years.’
It is this vision that underpins the creation of the Authority as a statutory authority operating in conjunction with Government, established to:
•	Encourage and promote: 
o	a vital city through the delivery of design-led, people-focussed urban renewal;
o	social and environmental sustainability; and
•	Operate effectively, in a way that delivers value for money, in accordance with sound risk management practices. 
The statutory functions given to the Authority are deliberately broad so as to enable it to lead, manage, facilitate and undertake urban renewal projects in declared urban renewal precincts, consistent with these overarching objectives. 
The significance of these responsibilities is reflected in the breadth and depth of experience, skill and expertise demanded from – and provided by - the membership of the Authority’s governing board. 
The Government strongly believes in the fundamental role of the Authority in delivering the calibre and quality of urban renewal outcomes necessary to firmly embed Canberra’s standing as a city of choice, a city of talent, a city of ambition that is open to all.  
Urban Renewal requirements and priorities 
Over a period of 12 months commencing from the date of the statement, the Government expects the Authority to deliver on the following priorities for urban renewal within the City Renewal Precinct. 
Cohesive urban renewal
The Government acknowledges that different areas within the City Renewal Precinct have already been the subject of extensive community engagement and planning in relation to future use whether through ACT Government initiatives or those of the National Capital Authority. 
Recognising the work that has occurred to date, an immediate priority for the Authority to address is the delivery of a cohesive, coordinated plan for the renewal of the areas comprising the City Renewal Precinct as a whole. 
The Government expects that this work will: 
•	identify and recommend prioritisation and sequencing of major public infrastructure works within the City Renewal Precinct;
•	be developed in consultation with key stakeholders; and
•	promote Government, stakeholder and community understanding of, and confidence in, the total program of works to be developed and delivered within the boundaries of the City Renewal Precinct; 
•	enable, encourage and promote cohesive renewal and development; 
•	be supported by clear timeframes in which identified renewal works need to be delivered commencing with those of highest productivity value;
•	be consistent with the Territory Plan and the strategic planning framework established under the Planning and Development Act 2007; and
•	reflect and be consistent with the Government’s publicly stated policy commitments. 

Specific projects and initiatives
The Government expects that the Authority will continue the following specific project works related to the City Renewal Precinct:
•	Haig Park
o	Working in consultation with Transport Canberra and City Services to finalise and implement the draft Haig Park Masterplan; 
•	West Basin
o	Completion of Stage 1 and commencement of Stage 2 of the West Basin Precinct;
•	City Bus Interchange
o	Planning of renewal works to enliven and renew the City Bus Interchange; 
•	Proactively engage with building owners in the City Precinct to ensure delivery of cohesive renewal and maintenance works; 
o	Act as key liaison between ACT Government and owners of the iconic Sydney and Melbourne Buildings to encourage and support revitalisation of these significant heritage sites
•	Engagement with Transport Canberra and City Services to ensure the continued delivery of open boulevard space along Northbourne Avenue to enable safe pedestrian movement and connection to services and facilities along the gateway;
•	Continuation of planning and renewal works to establish Dickson as a key community and transport hub connecting the City to surrounding northern suburbs  
•	Progressing the sale of Asset Recycling Initiative sites within the precinct. 
The Government expects the Authority to actively contribute to the liveability and vitality of the City Centre through: 
•	the planning and delivery of a diverse range of events, capital works upgrades, public realm and amenity improvements and stakeholder partnerships, including:
o	testing and trialling public space through events and interventions; 
o	partnering with local event providers and businesses; 
o	testing regulatory barriers to events and innovation; 
o	leading the market by demonstrating event styles and locations; 
o	Facilitating events and activities in public spaces, including laneways;
•	identifying opportunities for large scale festivals or seasonal events to enliven the City Centre and support the development of the Territory’s event sector.
Stakeholder relationships and community engagement
The Act enshrines the Government’s expectations that the Authority will:
•	Consult and establish productive working relationships with key  stakeholders, including all levels of Government and other relevant bodies and organisations;
•	engage openly and meaningfully with the local community to inform both the design and delivery of works within declared precincts; 
•	promote cooperation, collaboration and coherent urban renewal with other key entities including the National Capital Authority and the Suburban Land Agency. 
To assist the Authority Board to implement this statement and discharge its legislative obligations, the Government draws the Authority’s attention to: 
•	The Government’s commitment to the principles of ‘Open Government’, reflected in the guide Engaging Canberrans: A guide to community engagement which requires:
o	Transparency in process and information;
o	Participation by citizens in the governing process; 
o	Public collaboration in finding solutions to problems; and
o	Participation in the improved well-being of the community.
The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (the Directorate) has responsibility for providing administrative support and advice to the Chief Minister and the Executive on a wide range of matters including strategic planning, strategic policy regarding environmental sustainability, the built form and land development and management. 
Significantly, through its Director-General, the Directorate is responsible for providing advice and support to the Chief Minister on the performance of the framework for delivery of urban renewal and suburban development works established by the Act. 
The Government expects that the Directorate and the Authority will maintain a close, collaborative working relationship to enable the provision of timely advice and support to the Chief Minister. The Government expects that the Authority board will facilitate the sharing of information, where appropriate, on urban renewal priorities so that EPSDD can provide timely advice to the Government on urban renewal and suburban development funding decisions.
Expectations for implementation
The Government requires a high degree of accountability and transparency from the Authority in relation to the decision-making of its board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and its engagement with the public and Legislative Assembly in keeping with the principles of ‘Open Government’.  
The Government expects the Authority’s governing board and CEO to ensure that the Authority acts in accordance with all relevant legislation and legal instruments, in particular the following:
•	Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act);
•	Financial Management Act 1996 (FM Act); 
•	Public Sector Management Act 1994;
•	Territory Records Act 2002 (TR Act); 
•	Planning and Development Act 2007; and
•	Environment Protection Act 1997. 
In responding to this statement, and fulfilling its statutory responsibility to follow and support whole-of-government strategies, the Authority should observe and note the following policies, plans and strategies:
•	ACT Government Statement of Ambition 
•	Canberra’s International Engagement Strategy
•	ACT Government Infrastructure Plan 2011-2021 
•	ACT Planning Strategy 2012 and the outcomes from the review currently on underway
•	Transport Canberra: Public Transport Improvement Plan 2015
•	Transport for Canberra: Transport for a sustainable city 2012-2031
•	ACT Affordable Housing Action Plan (Phase III in particular)
•	People, Place and Prosperity: A Policy for Sustainability in the ACT
•	ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025: Towards a Sustainable Canberra 
•	Weathering the Change – The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007-2025 
Over the period of 12 months commencing from the date of the statement the Government expects that the profile of the Authority will be established as an open, responsive and engaged organisation that adopts a collaborative, people-focussed approach to the delivery of urban renewal outcomes characterised by design excellence. 
To build this reputation, the Government expects that the Authority’s governing board will implement a robust and transparent decision-making framework that is supported by information management practices that:
•	Actively promote the timely publication of information consistent with the ACT Government Digital Strategy;
•	Enable clear and timely reporting on performance across both financial and non-financial objectives and indicators;
•	Satisfy the records management responsibilities enshrined in the TR Act, as reflected in the ACT Territory Records’ Office Standards and Guidelines for Records, Information and Data.
The Government expects that the Authority will pro-actively manage risk through adoption and implementation of an active assurance, risk-based approach that satisfies AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 – which provides the internationally accepted basis for best practice risk management. 
The Authority should provide the Chief Minister in his capacity as responsible Minister for the entity, with accurate and timely advice on significant issues in its core area of business. Significant issues might include but are not limited to: 
•	Matters for which the Government is likely to be accountable in the Legislative Assembly; 
•	Important operational or budgetary issues, including management of its responsibilities under the WHS Act; 
•	The Authority’s achievement of set housing targets; and 
•	Matters related to its internal governance, including compliance with the Government’s framework for management of risk.