Expressions of interest are being called for a head contractor to undertake construction of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.

The retreat, being built on a property on Paddy's River Road, is envisioned as a therapeutic community that reconnects participants with their land and culture to foster rehabilitation. It will work with youths away from "the temptations of the city" with a strong focus on Aboriginal spirituality and principles.

Rural landholders lost an appeal to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal this year to stop the bush retreat, despite their fears it would undermine the area's "rural character".

Rod Little, chairman of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, said his group had been pushing strongly for the farm project.

''It's been around for such a long time,'' he said.

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, said the government was committed to building the healing farm.

''Certainly it is an issue the elected body have raised with me at every meeting we've had and, in a sense, they have been deeply frustrated by the slow progress,'' he said.

''I'm certainly keeping a close eye on it both as the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and the Minister for Corrective Services. It will play an important role in reducing recidivism but also in providing for young indigenous men an alternative pathway to going to jail, where of course indigenous Australians continue to be massively over-represented.

''The government is keen to progress the project as quickly as possible.''

The land is managed by ACT Health, which will supply an on-site manager.

The government was unable to supply an approximate date for the opening of the retreat.

''Since the ACAT (ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal) decision on the lease variation development application, work has been undertaken on satisfying conditions of the ACAT decision, and the land management agreement has been completed,'' a government spokesman said.

''The time frame for construction work on this project is subject to a decision on the design and siting development application – when that decision is made, a revised program will be developed.''

Expressions of interest for the head contractor or construction contractor close on Thursday.

''Following assessment of the expressions of interest, a tender process will follow; this is currently programmed to occur in early October,'' the spokesman said.

Neighbouring landholders appeared before the tribunal arguing for a review of a decision to vary the lease on the land to allow for a "group or organised camp" at a portion of the site.

The Rural Landholders' Association, along with other nearby residents, argued the decision would have "unacceptable social and environmental impacts" and said public policy should protect them in the quiet enjoyment of their rural leases. They said the site near Paddy's River was not suitable for the development, and other spots in the ACT were better suited for the proposed healing farm.

One neighbouring couple expressed fears the farm would undermine the rural character of the area, cause a loss of privacy and affect their rural views. They feared the use of a fire pit at the retreat posed a bushfire risk, and that Paddy's River, a water source for one family, would be polluted.

However the tribunal ruled it was satisfied that the lease could be varied to include the purpose of a "group or organised camp" and still be consistent with the zoning requirements. "The concerns of the parties as to probable impacts, both social and environmental, are largely speculative and did not persuade the tribunal that the correct or preferable decision would be to refuse the lease variation,” it said.

The tribunal did agree with the Planning and Land Authority that it should make some changes to the lease to address some of the concerns raised by the landholders.

That includes providing a proper plan of the portion of land that will be used for a "group or organised camp".