INTRODUCTION

The National Capital Plan (the Plan) is the strategy and blueprint giving effect to the Commonwealth’s interests and intentions for planning, designing and developing Canberra and the Territory.

Australia's National Capital officially came into being in January 1911, when title to 911 square miles of land in the ‘district of Yass‑Canberra’ was passed to the Commonwealth by the State of New South Wales. The Seat of Government Acceptance Act of 1909 provided that the Territory would be acquired by the Commonwealth for the Seat of Government and that it would be known as the Federal Capital Territory.

Canberra's function as the Seat of Government and as the nation's capital have been the basis for the establishment of Australia's principal governmental, judicial, cultural, scientific, educational, and military institutions. It has resulted in foreign governments establishing diplomatic missions and residences, and in an increasing number of national organisations and institutions seeking a presence in the capital.

The gradual accumulation of important national functions has been accompanied by a growing awareness of Canberra's significance in Australia's national and international life.

The present city of Canberra is far bigger than most of its founders ever imagined. But at each stage of its growth, great care has been taken to maintain a quality and standard of development appropriate to Australia’s capital.

The introduction of self‑government for the Australian Capital Territory in 1988 created a circumstance where two governments, the Australian Government and the Australian Capital Territory Government (ACT Government), share responsibility for the further development of the Territory.

The ACT Government is responsible for managing the affairs of the Territory on a parliamentary, legislative, administrative and financial basis comparable to the Australian States. The ACT Government also manages those functions which, in the States, are performed by local government. The ACT Legislative Assembly has the general power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Territory.

Canberra's role and functioning as the National Capital remains a responsibility of the Australian Government. The Australian Government has a direct responsibility for locations and functions that reflect Canberra as the National Capital.

The Australian Constitution provides that:

‘The Seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Parliament, and shall be within territory which shall have been granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth, and shall be vested in and belong to the Commonwealth…’.

Under the Constitutional provision, the Commonwealth remains the owner of land in the Territory even after the granting of self‑government. The Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 provides that land used by or on behalf of the Commonwealth may be declared National Land, and managed by the Commonwealth. The remaining lands of the Territory are Territory Land and these lands are managed by the ACT Government on behalf of the Commonwealth.