Australia's Capital Territory (ACT) state has received funding to establish an advisory integrated project team for the ACT Courts Facilities project PPP which is the ACT's first project under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

ATC has received AUS$1.8 million to fund the Integrated Project Team and external advisers who will oversee the procurement and delivery of the project. This will also fund an Infrastructure Finance and Advisory Unit within CMTD to advise on PPP's across Government and will manage unsolicited proposals for public infrastructure.

The Request for Expressions of Interest is scheduled to be launched in the second half of this year, alongside the development of a request for proposal tender process, and evaluation of those proposals through an interactive bid process. It is expected that construction will be complete and the facilities operational towards the end of the 2017-18 financial year.

The New Supreme Court Facility Project proposes to address these issues:

• Redevelopment of the Supreme Court to provide a fully functional integrated courts facility;
• Demolition of the Supreme Court building facade fronting Vernon Circle and provision of an annex wing that physically links the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court buildings and creates an integrated Courts facility;
• Enclosure of the existing open area between the Magistrates Court building to create a courtyard space;
• Provision of a secure linked custodial management facility to service both the Magistrates and Supreme Court buildings; and
• Retention of the heritage envelope and key significant fabric of the Supreme Court building.