{"id":"a-1902-95","name":"Public Roads Act 1902","slug":"public-roads-act-1902","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"95 of 1902","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":24112,"registerId":"act-a-1902-95-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public Roads Act 1902","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nA1902-95\nRepublication No 8\nEffective: 26 December 2025\nRepublication date: 26 December 2025\nLast amendment made by A2025-29\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Public Roads Act 1902 (including any amendment made under the\nLegislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 26 December 2025. It also\nincludes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to\n26 December 2025.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nContents\nPage\n1 Name of Act 2\n2 Dictionary 2\n3 Notes 2\n18 Lands reserved as roads may be declared public roads 2\n19 Notices of intention to close unnecessary road 2\n20 Closing of roads 4\n23 Minister may re-mark 5\n25 Notice of re-marking of road to be published 5\n29 Protection of Territory and Commonwealth 6\n35 Backdating of limitations etc 6\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary 7\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 8\n2 Abbreviation key 8\n3 Legislation history 9\n4 Amendment history 12\n5 Earlier republications 14\n\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nAn Act to consolidate the Acts relating to the opening, closing, survey, altering\nand improving of roads and the alignment and alteration of the alignment of\nstreets in municipalities\n\nSection 1\npage 2 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Public Roads Act 1902.\n2 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this\nAct.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire Act unless the\ndefinition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the\ncontrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and\ns 156 (1)).\n3 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\nNote See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.\n18 Lands reserved as roads may be declared public roads\n(1) The Minister may, in writing, declare any road to be a public road\nand, on the making of the declaration, the road shall be dedicated to\nthe public accordingly and shall be withdrawn from any lease or\nlicence from the Territory or Commonwealth under which it was held\nand no compensation shall be payable in relation to it.\n(2) A declaration is a notifiable instrument.\n19 Notices of intention to close unnecessary road\n(1) If the Minister is satisfied that a road should be closed, completely or\npartly, the Minister may prepare a written notice to that effect and\nsend a copy of the notice by post to each owner or occupier of land\nwith frontage to the road or part whose name and address is known.\n\nSection 19\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply if—\n(a) the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to partly close the\nroad; and\n(b) the closure of the road is only to give effect to a variation of a\nlease under the Planning Act 2023, chapter 7 (Development\nassessment and approvals); and\n(c) the variation is only to incorporate into an existing lease an\nenvelope of land that contains an encroachment onto, over or\nunder unleased territory land; and\n(d) the closure of the road would not—\n(i) impede the flow of vehicle or pedestrian traffic; or\n(ii) otherwise present a risk to public safety; and\n(e) because of the size, location or configuration of the area of road\nto be closed, granting a separate territory lease over the land\nwould not be reasonable or appropriate.\nExample—par (d)\nIf the road to be closed allows vehicle traffic in 2 directions, then part of the road\ncannot be closed if traffic flow in either direction would be impeded.\nExample–par (e)\nIt would not be reasonable or appropriate to grant a lease over a parcel of land with\nan area of 0.05m x 50m located between an existing lease and a public road as it is\nunlikely that the parcel of land could be separately leased.\n(3) The notice must state that objections to the closing of the road must\nbe given to the Minister within 1 month after the notification of the\nnotice under the Legislation Act 2001.\n(4) A notice is a notifiable instrument.\n\nSection 20\npage 4 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(5) The Minister must give additional public notice of a notice under\nsubsection (4).\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (5) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a notifiable instrument.\n20 Closing of roads\n(1) If, after considering all objections (if any) made in accordance with\nthe notice given under section 19 about the closing of a road, the\nMinister is satisfied that the road should be completely or partly\nclosed, the Minister may, after the month mentioned in the notice,\ndeclare, in writing, that the road is completely or partly closed.\n(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply if—\n(a) the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to partly close the\nroad; and\n(b) the closure of the road is only to give effect to a variation of a\nlease under the Planning Act 2023, chapter 7 (Development\nassessment and approvals); and\n(c) the variation is only to incorporate into an existing lease an\nenvelope of land that contains an encroachment onto, over or\nunder unleased territory land; and\n(d) the closure of the road would not—\n(i) impede the flow of vehicle or pedestrian traffic; or\n(ii) otherwise present a risk to public safety; and\n\nSection 23\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(e) because of the size, location or configuration of the area of road\nto be closed, granting a separate territory lease over the land\nwould not be reasonable or appropriate.\nExample—par (d)\nIf the road to be closed allows vehicle traffic in 2 directions, then part of the road\ncannot be closed if traffic flow in either direction would be impeded.\nExample—par (e)\nIt would not be reasonable or appropriate to grant a lease over a parcel of land with\nan area of 0.05m x 50m located between an existing lease and a public road as it is\nunlikely that the parcel of land could be separately leased.\n(3) On the making of a declaration completely or partly closing a road,\nthe land included in the closed road, or closed part of the road, is freed\nfrom any rights of the public or anyone to the land as a highway.\n(4) A declaration under this section is a notifiable instrument.\n23 Minister may re-mark\nWhenever the position and boundaries of a road required for public\ntraffic cannot be identified through the absence or loss of the survey\nmarks, the Minister may cause the road to be re-marked.\n25 Notice of re-marking of road to be published\n(1) If a road has been re-marked under section 23, the Minister may\nprepare a notice setting out generally the extent and direction of the\nroad.\n(2) The notice shall—\n(a) refer to a plan of survey of the re-marking of the road; and\n(b) state where the plan may be inspected; and\n(c) state that it is intended, subject to consideration of any\nobjections received, to approve the plan; and\n\nSection 29\npage 6 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(d) call on all persons interested to make, in writing, addressed to\nthe Minister, within 1 month of the date of the notice, any\nobjections they may have to the road as re-marked.\n(3) The notice is a notifiable instrument.\n(4) The Minister must give additional public notice of a notice under\nsubsection (3).\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (4) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a notifiable instrument.\n(5) After considering the objections (if any) received in accordance with\nthe notice, the Minister may approve the plan, in writing, with or\nwithout change.\n(6) The road as re-marked according to the plan as approved is taken to\nbe the original road.\n(7) The approval under subsection (5) is a notifiable instrument.\n29 Protection of Territory and Commonwealth\nNo suit or action shall be maintainable against the Territory or\nCommonwealth for injury or damage resulting from any alignment or\nalteration of alignment under this Act.\n35 Backdating of limitations etc\n(1) The Minister may, in writing, limit, correct or alter a notice under this\nAct and, if the Minister does so, the limitation, correction or alteration\nrelates back to the date of the original notice unless otherwise stated\nin the notice.\n(2) A limitation, correction or alteration is a notifiable instrument.\n\nDictionary\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 2)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis Act.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1 defines the following terms:\n• ACT\n• Commonwealth\n• Minister (see s 162)\n• territory lease\n• the Territory.\nroad includes any land proclaimed, dedicated, resumed or otherwise\nprovided before or after the passing of this Act, as a public\nthoroughfare or way and, in sections 18 to 20, also includes any land\ndefined, reserved or left, before or after the passing of this Act, as a\nroad in any subdivision of land of the Commonwealth or New South\nWales or in the measurement or granting of the land as indicated on\nthe official plans of the subdivision.\n\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\npage 8 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nThis Act was originally a NSW Act—the Public Roads Act 1902 A1902-95 (NSW).\nThe Act was in force in NSW immediately before 1 January 1911 (the date of\nestablishment of the ACT) and was continued in force by the Seat of Government\nAcceptance Act 1909 (Cwlth), s 6.\nUnder the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 4 the Act had\neffect in the ACT as if it were an ACT law (subject to ordinances made under the\nSeat of Government (Administration) Act 1910).\nThe Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (4)\nconverted most former NSW laws in force in the ACT into ACT enactments. This\nallowed the ACT Legislative Assembly to amend and repeal the laws. This Act was\nconverted into an ACT enactment on 11 May 1989 (self-government day).\nUnder the Interpretation Act 1967, s 65 (now expired) all former NSW Acts in force\nin the ACT immediately before 10 November 1999 (including this Act) became,\nfor all purposes, laws made by the ACT Legislative Assembly. This completed the\nprocess of making former NSW Acts fully into ACT laws.\nNSW legislation\nPublic Roads Act 1902 A1902-95\nassented to 12 December 1902\ncommenced 12 December 1902\nCommonwealth legislation\nas amended by\nNew South Wales Acts Act 1986 A1986-91\nnotified 12 January 1987 (Cwlth Gaz 1987)\ncommenced 12 January 1987\nLegislation after becoming Territory enactment\nSelf-Government (Consequential Amendments) Ordinance 1989\nOrd1989-38 sch 2\nnotified 10 May 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S160)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 1989 (s 2 (1))\nsch 2 commenced 11 May 1989 (s 2 (2) and see Cwlth Gaz 1989\nNo S164)\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 10 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nLegislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 A2001-44 pt 315\nnotified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)\npt 315 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and Gaz 2001 No S65)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2001 (No 2) 2001 No 56 pt 3.43\nnotified 5 September 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S65)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 5 September 2001 (IA s 10B)\namdt 3.471 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 (2))\npt 3.43 remainder commenced 5 September 2001 (s 2 (1))\nLand (Planning and Environment) (Compliance) Amendment Act\n2003 A2003-34 pt 3\nnotified LR 7 July 2003\ns 1, s 2 commenced 7 July 2003 (LA s 75 (1))\npt 3 commenced 1 September 2003 (s 2 and CN2003-8)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.80\nnotified LR 22 March 2007\ns 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))\nsch 3 pt 3.80 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))\nPlanning and Development (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007\nA2007-25 sch 1 pt 1.26\nnotified LR 13 September 2007\ns 1, s 2 commenced 13 September 2007 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.26 commenced 31 March 2008 (s 2 and see Planning and\nDevelopment Act 2007 A2007-24, s 2 and CN2008-1)\nRed Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 A2015-33\nsch 1 pt 1.55\nnotified LR 30 September 2015\ns 1, s 2 commenced 30 September 2015 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.55 commenced 14 October 2015 (s 2)\nPlanning (Consequential Amendments) Act 2023 A2023-36 sch 1\npt 1.53\nnotified LR 29 September 2023\ns 1, s 2 commenced 29 September 2023 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.53 commenced 27 November 2023 (s 2 (1) and see\nPlanning Act 2023 A2023-18, s 2 (2) and CN2023-10)\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2025 A2025-29 sch 4 pt 4.141\nnotified LR 6 November 2025\ns 1, s 2 commenced 6 November 2025 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 4 pt 4.141 commenced 26 December 2025 (s 2 (7))\n\nEndnotes\n4 Amendment history\npage 12 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history\nThe New South Wales Acts Act 1986 (previously the New South Wales Acts\nOrdinance 1986), sch 2, pt 15 sets out the text of this Act in an amended form and\nprovided for the amended form to apply as the text of the Act in force in the ACT.\nThis endnote, therefore, only details amendments made after that date.\nName of Act\ns 1 sub A2001-56 amdt 3.469\nRepeal Savings and Interpretation\nhdg before s 1 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3463\nDictionary\ns 2 ins A2007-3 amdt 3.420\nNotes\ns 3 ins A2007-3 amdt 3.420\nDefinitions for Act\ns 6 defs reloc to dict A2007-3 amdt 3.419\nom A2007-3 amdt 3.420\nDedication of roads\nhdg before s 18 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3464\nLands reserved as roads may be declared public roads\ns 18 am Ord1989-38 sch 2; A2001-44 amdt 1.3465, amdt 1.3466;\nA2025-29 amdt 4.142\nClosing of unnecessary roads\nhdg before s 19 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3467\nNotices of intention to close unnecessary road\ns 19 am Ord1989-38 sch 2; A2001-44 amdt 1.3468, amdt 1.3469;\nA2001-56 amdt 3.471; A2003-34 s 11; ss renum R3 LA (see\nA2003-34 s 12); A2007-25 amdt 1.159; A2015-33\namdt 1.195; A2023-36 amdt 1.318; A2025-29 amdt 4.142\nClosing of roads\ns 20 am Ord1989-38 sch 2; A2001-44 amdt 1.3470, amdt 1.3471\nsub A2003-34 s 13\nam A2007-25 amdt 1.160; A2023-36 amdt 1.318; A2025-29\namdt 4.142\nRe-marking roads\nhdg before s 23 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3472\nNotice of re-marking of road to be published\ns 25 am Ord1989-38 sch 2; A2001-44 amdts 1.3473-1.3475;\nA2015-33 amdt 1.196; A2025-29 amdt 4.142\n\nEndnotes\nAmendment history 4\nR8\n26/12/25\nPublic Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\npage 13\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nProtection of Territory and Commonwealth\ns 29 am Ord1989-38 sch 2\ns 29 hdg sub A2001-56 amdt 3.472\nGazette notices\nhdg before s 35 om A2001-44 amdt 1.3476\nBackdating of limitations etc\ns 35 am Ord1989-38 sch 2\nsub A2001-44 amdt 1.3477\nam A2025-29 amdt 4.142\nDictionary\ndict ins A2007-3 amdt 3.421\nam A2007-25 amdt 1.161\ndef local newspaper reloc from s 6 A2007-3 amdt 3.419\nom A2015-33 amdt 1.197\ndef road am A2001-56 amdt 3.470\nreloc from s 6 A2007-3 amdt 3.419\n\nEndnotes\n5 Earlier republications\npage 14 Public Roads Act 1902\nEffective: 26/12/25\nR8\n26/12/25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n31 Aug 1992\n11 May 1989–\n4 Sept 2001\nOrd1989-38 amendments by\nOrd1989-38\nR1 (RI)\n20 Sept 2013\n11 May 1989–\n4 Sept 2001\nOrd1989-38 reissue of printed\nversion\nR2\n30 Apr 2002\n12 Sept 2001–\n31 Aug 2003\nA2001-56 amendments by\nA2001-44 and\nA2001-56\nR3\n1 Sept 2003\n1 Sept 2003–\n11 Apr 2007\nA2003-34 amendments by\nA2003-34\nR4\n12 Apr 2007\n12 Apr 2007–\n30 Mar 2008\nA2007-3 amendments by\nA2007-3\nR5\n31 Mar 2008\n31 Mar 2008–\n13 Oct 2015\nA2007-25 amendments by\nA2007-25\nR6\n14 Oct 2015\n14 Oct 2015–\n26 Nov 2023\nA2015-33 amendments by\nA2015-33\nR7\n27 Nov 2023\n27 Nov 2023–\n25 Dec 2025\nA2023-36 amendments by\nA2023-36\n© Australian Capital Territory 2025","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's operative scope has been updated since 1902: modern notice and publication procedures (notifiable instruments, public notice) and a 1‑month objection window are emphasised (ss 19, 25); explicit exceptions coordinate road-closure powers with the Planning Act 2023 for lease variations (ss 19(2), 20(2)); the Minister has an express ability to backdate or correct notices (s 35); and immunity and non-compensation rules remain in force (ss 18, 29). These amendments reflect procedural and inter‑statutory adjustments from the original text (see endnotes)."},"complexity_factors":["Significant ministerial discretion to declare, close and re-mark roads (ss 18, 20, 23, 25).","Multiple procedural steps (notification, public notice, 1‑month objection period) requiring strict timing and publication (ss 19(3), 19(4)–(5), 25(2)–(4)).","Statutory exceptions that require cross-reading with the Planning Act 2023 for certain partial closures (ss 19(2), 20(2)).","Power to limit, correct or alter notices with retrospective effect (s 35) adding legal and evidentiary nuance.","Immunity from suit for alignment or alteration actions (s 29) shifts legal risk away from the Territory and Commonwealth.","Reliance on notifiable instruments and defined public notice mechanisms (multiple provisions) creates administrative compliance requirements.","Concise drafting with a long amendment history and conversion from NSW law increases interpretation load (endnotes)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act gives the Minister power to declare land a public road, to re-mark, partly or wholly close roads, publish and approve plans, and to limit or correct notices so they relate back to the original notice (ss 18, 19–20, 23, 25, 35). It affects landowners, leaseholders and the public because roads can be dedicated or closed without compensation (s 18), interested persons have one month to object to notices (ss 19, 25), and the Territory and Commonwealth are immune from suits for alignment changes (s 29)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1902 Act was a broad consolidation of laws concerning 'the opening, closing, survey, altering and improving of roads and the alignment and alteration of the alignment of streets in municipalities.' Over 123 years of amendments, the scope has narrowed significantly. The modern Act is essentially a procedural mechanism for ministerial declarations about road status, with most operational functions (construction, maintenance, traffic management) now handled under other legislation such as the Roads and Public Places Act 1937 and the Planning Act 2023. The 2023 and 2025 amendments further specialised the Act to focus on administrative closures supporting lease variations, particularly for minor encroachment issues, rather than broad road management."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute with only 7 operative sections (ss 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 29, 35)","Single defined term ('road') in the dictionary, though it contains a complex inclusive definition spanning historical NSW and Commonwealth land subdivisions","Nested exception structure in ss 19(2) and 20(2) with five cumulative conditions (a)-(e) for streamlined road closures","Cross-references to external legislation: Planning Act 2023 (chapter 7), Legislation Act 2001 (notification requirements, penalty units)","Legislative history spanning 123 years with multiple jurisdictional transfers (NSW → Commonwealth → ACT self-government)","Use of archaic terminology ('thoroughfare', 're-marked', 'suit or action shall be maintainable') alongside modern legislative drafting","Backdating provision in s 35 allowing ministerial corrections to relate back to original notice dates"],"plain_english_summary":"The Public Roads Act 1902 empowers the Minister to manage public roads in the ACT—declaring land as public road, closing roads (including a streamlined route for minor lease-boundary fixes), and re-surveying lost road marks. It affects the Territory government, adjacent landholders and developers. The Act matters for urban development and boundary corrections: it enables practical road-opening/closing decisions, limits compensation for cancelled leases, and reduces legal exposure for road-alignment choices."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902","history":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902/history","analysis":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/public-roads-act-1902/documents"}}