The government wants to fast track projects such as the new light rail track linking the north of Canberra to the city, and a secure mental health facility.

A bill, to be introduced on Thursday, requires the government to declare a project and precinct of high public benefit, and put the projects to the Assembly as a disallowable instrument. Once that has been done, third parties lose the right to appeal to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and their right to appeal to the ACT Supreme Court is limited. The planning minister has the final say.

The idea is “to ensure that major projects with a substantial public benefit cannot be held up by third party appeals and legislation”, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell said.

The bill means developers no longer need to wait for a variation to the Territory Plan, but can lodge development applications on the basis of a draft variation to the plan. The government said it can take six to 18 months for a change to a territory plan to be completed.

The bill also means that Environment Impact Statement will be lodged and assessed alongside the development application, rather than before.

Mr Corbell said the change could save months and even years from assessments.