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Canberra light rail: ACT Government to use fast-track laws to avoid delays

A bill to ensure Canberra's proposed light rail project is built on time and with few legal appeals will be introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly today.

The Government plans to start building a 12-kilometre light rail track between Civic and Gungahlin in 2016.

ACT Planning Minister Mick Gentleman said under the Planning and Development (Capital Metro) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014there would be broad community consultation on the project, but people would lose their right to appeal to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal once the project reached a certain point.

"These changes are needed to ensure the first stage of Capital Metro can proceed smoothly without any potential lengthy legal delays," he said.

After the ACT Planning and Land Authority approves the process, the Planning Minister would be the final decision-maker.

"It really is important to send confidence to business and ensure that the project goes ahead on time and without delay," Mr Gentleman said.

"So this legislation will help ensure that this important piece of infrastructure will proceed in a timely and transparent manner in order to help tackle the congestion that is projected to cost the ACT about $200 million a year."

The Canberra Liberals have promised to put a stop the light rail project if they win the 2016 election.

The Opposition's transport spokesman, Alistair Coe, said they were unlikely to support the legislation.

"We are pretty concerned if this is, once again, the Government stifling community consultation, and ramming the light rail project down people's throats," he said.

Earlier this year a similar bill was used to fast-track planning for a 25-bed mental health facility on the former Quamby Youth Detention Centre site in Symonston.