Business Units
Governance
The Governance Unit is the management unit for the Authority. The unit has a small dedicated team that is the liaison point for the Minister and Ministerial Staff; liaison with the Joint Standing Committee and with the portfolio. The unit manages the governance issues dealing specifically with risk management, insurance, audit committee, tender board, and performance monitoring and reporting. The reporting is in the form of internal reporting on performance relating to the business plan to managing external government wide reporting requirements.
The unit also provides legal advice and is the area responsible for Freedom of Information processing. External audits are managed through this unit as is the internal audit program. This unit has responsibility for the production of a number of documents including the annual report.
Corporate
The Corporate Unit is jointly managed by the Managing Director, Corporate and the Director, Finance (Chief Finance Officer).
The Unit's focus is on corporate leadership, service culture and raising an awareness of the Authority. This involves the development of networking opportunities and partnerships, managing outgoing sponsorship and the Old Parliament House Gardens patronage project. It also covers the provision of support services and leadership in the areas of people management and development, records management and information technology, including the Authority's web site presence.
All financial initiatives, budget related matters and associated reporting and financial statement audit requirements fall under Corporate Business. In particular it is charged with developing new business opportunities and strengthening the Authority's revenue base and initiatives.
Planning & Urban Design
The Planning & Urban Design Unit is largely responsible for Output 1 as set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements. It is charged under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 with the tasks of:
- preparing and administering a National Capital Plan (the Plan);
- keeping the Plan under constant review and proposing amendments to it when necessary.
These functions involve the preparation of planning policy (which form the basis of amendments to the Plan) Master Plans, Development Control Plans, Assessing works approval applications and monitoring the quality of buildings and other developments once completed. To date:
- thirty-five (35) amendments to the Plan have been approved
- a further seven (7) Draft Amendments are in progress
- sixty-nine (69) Development Control Plans have been approved and
- each year the Authority deals with 3-400 works approval applications.
Close liaison arrangements are maintained by the Unit with the Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Authority, the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Environment and Heritage and with the development industry in Canberra.
The Planning & Urban Design Unit has a staff of 12 of which 9 are town planners and two are landscape architects. The professional team is supported by one office manager.
Estate
The Commonwealth has a direct interest in the development and maintenance of Canberra as an asset in which all Australians have a major investment because it is their National Capital.
The Estate Unit's primary focus is as asset managers. Land managed by the Authority includes the Parliamentary Zone (excluding the Parliamentary Precincts), Anzac Parade, Lake Burley Griffin, Commonwealth Park and Kings Park, Aspen Island, Acton Peninsular, Yarramundi Reach and the Diplomatic Estates. Associated assets include the Captain Cook Memorial Jet, the National Carillon, fountains, national monuments, public artworks and large areas of landscape structures and soft planting.
The Unit also provides a corporate service to the Authority through the management of its leasing requirements, vehicle fleet, telecommunications and consumables.
Projects
The Projects Unit is a multidisciplinary team of designers.
This unit is responsible for delivering Authority's Capital Works Program.
The Projects Unit has been central to the development of recent capital works. The unit's work has included the management of design competitions, engagement of consultants and supervision of construction. The unit regularly provides strategic advice to external agencies on development of Capital Works projects.
The Unit's most recent achievements include:
- National Carillon Refurbishment
- Treasury Building Courtyard Refurbishment
- Commonwealth Place forecourt
- Reconstruction of the Old Parliament House Gardens
- Reconciliation Place
- National Emergency Services Memorial
- Centenary of Women's Suffrage commemorative fountain
- National Police Memorial
Work currently underway includes:
- Bridging of Kings Ave over Parkes Way
- Canberra Central Parklands Masterplan
- RG Menzies Walk
- Reconciliation Place Stage 4 - Paving artwork
- Humanities and Science Campus Square
- Parliamantary Zone Signage
- Arts and Civic Campus masterplan
Exhibition and Outreach
The Exhibition and Outreach Unit is responsible for fostering awareness of Canberra as the National Capital. This involves developing promotional and awareness strategies and educating about the role and significance of the National Capital.
The Unit comprises the following sections:
- Venue Management
- Exhibition and Outreach