Delivering the ACT government's pipeline of long-awaited major projects will be the sole focus of a new territory agency.
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The new agency, to be known as Major Projects Canberra, will start work on July 1, with the task of overseeing the Canberra Hospital SPIRE project and stage two of light rail at the top of its agenda.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the agency would harness expertise from across various government directorates to deliver the infrastructure needed to support Canberra as the city's population grows towards 500,000.
Major Projects Canberra will have oversight of the government's 10-year infrastructure program, which is due for release in September.
The program is set to include a catalogue of projects the Barr government has long spoken about, but as yet not started work on, including a new city sports stadium, theatre and convention centre.
The ACT government's 2019-20 budget outlined $787 million in infrastructure spending in the next four years, including $53 million towards the SPIRE project.
"Major Projects Canberra will centralise expertise across government and focus the planning, procurement and delivery of some of the territory's largest ever projects."
- Chief Minister Andrew Barr
It also included a $1.2 billion "provision" for further capital works, but provided little clarity on the cost and timeline of the territory's big-ticket projects, such as light rail's expansion to Woden.
Master Builders Association of the ACT chief executive Michael Hopkins, who has been among those critical of the government's apparent lack of forward planning, welcomed the creation of the new agency.
"As the government's vision for Canberra as one of the world's most liveable and competitive cities becomes a reality, our local business community will rely upon a long-term infrastructure plan so they can prepare to design, build and maintain the infrastructure our city will require in the future," Mr Hopkins said.
The announcement of the new agency comes as Mr Barr prepares to front budget estimates hearings on Monday.
The agency's arrival will trigger a flurry of movement in the territory's public service.
Duncan Edghill, who was Transport Canberra's deputy director-general during construction of light rail's first stage, will lead a 140-strong "expert infrastructure delivery team" while a permanent chief projects officer is recruited.
The agency will be staffed by public servants who are currently working in the infrastructure branches of Transport Canberra and City Services, Health and Treasury.
The ACT's inaugural chief engineer, Adrian Piani, is set to have a key role in the agency.
"[This agency will] centralise expertise across government and focus the planning, procurement and delivery of some of the territory's largest ever projects," Mr Barr said.
Mr Barr said it was likely that a "series of roles" would have to be filled as staff moved between agencies.
However, he said Major Projects Canberra would be entirely funded through the existing budget for the territory's public service.
Exact details of the agency's annual budget allocation was yet to be finalised.
The announcement of the new agency comes after Opposition leader Alistair Coe last week floated the idea of creating a new water authority, in place of the ACT government-owned corporation Icon Water.