From time-to-time the Minister for Planning or the Director General of the Department of Planning may appoint an independent panel or advisor to undertake a strategic inquiry or review of particular planning matters and provide recommendations.
The Minister may also appoint a planning administrator or panel to exercise the functions of a local council where there is unsatisfactory performance in dealing with planning and development matters. The Government on 20 July 2007 gazetted an Order, which lists the matters that the Minister is to take into account in determining whether to make such an appointment. Planning Circular (issued 1 August 2007) 
Note: This page does not list independent hearing and assessment panels (IHAPs) for particular major projects being assessed under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Notice of such panels appears with the project documentation on the Major Projects register.
Current
Camberwell cumulative impact review
Date announced: 18 December 2008
Panel members: Damon Roddis (air quality), Yvonne Scorgie (air quality), John Wasserman (noise), other possible expert/s (TBC)
More information: Notice of public meeting (which includes the terms of reference for the review)
Burwood town centre planning panel and administrator
Date of appointment: Planning administrator on 16 January 2009; planning panel on 20 July 2007
Administrator: The members of the Burwood Town Centre Planning Panel have been appointed jointly as a planning administrator
Panel members: Ms Sue Francis (chair), Ms Alison McCabe, and Mr Peter John Cantrill
More information:
Administrator: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Burwood Town Centre Planning Administrator) Order 2009 , gazetted 16 January 2009, provides for the appointment of an administrator to exercise the functions of the council with respect to the preparation and making/approval of a development control plan and a contributions plan in relation to development in the Burwood Town Centre. Reasons for appointment of administrator
Panel: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Burwood Town Centre Planning Panel) Order 2007 , gazetted 20 July 2007, outlines the functions of the panel. Reasons for appointment of panel and media release
Independent review - landfill capacity and demand for the Sydney region
Date of appointment: TBC
Advisor: Mr Tony Wright
Call for written submissions: 24 September to 27 October 2008
More information: Terms of reference for strategic review and Independent public assessment: landfill capacity and demand report (A.G. Wright, September 2000)
External advisory panel - contentious projects
Date of appointment: 30 April 2008
Panel members: Adrian Galasso, Senior Counsel (chairperson), Garry West, former National Party minister and Janet Thompson, town planning expert. Alternate member: Vince Berkhout
More information: Media release and panel's Terms of Reference
Ku-ring-gai planning panel
Date of appointment: 3 March 2008
Panel members: Elizabeth Crouch (Chair) - previously Chief Executive, Industry Policy, Housing Industry Association, Ms Crouch has extensive experience in housing policy and economics, planning and development and environmental initiatives in the housing sector; Kerry Bedford - has extensive experience in planning and development matters in the public and private sectors; and, Bill Tsakalos - has extensive experience in architecture, urban design and development of large urban sites for public and private clients
More information: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel) Order 2008 2008 (NSW Government Gazette, Week No. 28/2008) commenced on 3 March 2008 and outlines the functions of the panel. The Order also includes maps for the town centres (maps 1–6: Gordon, Lindfield, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives, and Turramurra). Minister's reasons for the appointment of the Panel
Note: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Ku-ring-gai Council Planning Panel) Order 2007 was repealed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Ku-ring-gai Council Planning Panel) (Repeal) Order 2008 on 3 March 2008
Inquiries: The panel can be contacted by emailing panel@kmc.nsw.gov.au
Wagga Wagga planning panel
Date of appointment: 7 November 2007
Panel members: Former Minister for the Environment and former Parramatta City Councillor Pam Allan (Chair); and, town planner, Landcom development director and former Wagga Wagga resident Stephen Driscoll. At the request of Wagga Wagga City Council, an Albury council planner, Terri O'Brien has also been appointed to the panel
More information: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Wagga Wagga City Council Planning Panel) Order 2007 outlines the functions of the panel (NSW Government Gazette, Week No. 166/2007); and media release
Strategic inquiry into potential coal mining impacts in the Wyong LGA
Date of appointment: 5 February 2007
Panel members: Ms Kerry Chikarovski (chair), former leader of the NSW Liberal Party; Professor Jim Galvin , subsidence expert, Managing Director of Galvin and Associates, and visiting Professor at the School of Mining Engineering, UNSW; Associate Professor Noel Merrick, groundwater expert and Acting Director of the National Centre for Groundwater Management, UTS; and Mr Brian Elton , social impact expert and Director of Elton Consulting
Panel report and recommendations:
Impacts of potential underground coal mining in the Wyong local government area: strategic review (July 2008) [ 1.7MB]
Public exhibition: The panel's report was released for public comment on 17 December 2008. Comments are invited until 27 February 2009. View exhibition details
More information: (panel terms of reference, hearing and submissions)
Terms of reference
Map of Wyong LGA (showing catchment areas and proposed Wallarah project area by Kores and exploratory licence (EL) areas)
Submissions to the Wyong Independent Panel
Before preparing their report to the Minister, the Wyong Independent Panel held public hearings, and received and considered 360 written submissions (including 293 form letters). Anyone who made a submission was also invited to make a supplementary submission. Copies of the submissions are provided below.
List of written submissions
Government and related submissions
Interest group submissions
Industry submissions
Community submissions
Note: The views expressed in submissions are those of the author and do not represent the views of the Department of Planning.
Strategic inquiry into underground coal mining in the Southern Coalfield
Date of appointment: 6 December 2006
Panel members: Professor Bruce Hebblewhite (chair) subsidence expert, Head of School of Mining Engineering, University of NSW and Executive Director of Mining Education Australia; Professor Jim Galvin , subsidence expert, Managing Director of Galvin and Associates, and visiting Professor at the School of Mining Engineering, University of NSW; Mr Col Mackie, groundwater expert, Principal at Mackie Environmental Research; Associate Professor Ron West , aquatic ecology expert, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong and a member of the NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee (Threatened Aquatic Species); and Mr Drew Collins , social and economic analysis expert and Managing Director of the BDA Group.
Panel report and recommendations:
Impacts of underground coal mining on natural features in the Southern Coalfield: strategic review (July 2008) [ 4.1MB]
More information: (panel terms of reference, hearing and submissions)
Terms of reference
Map of the Southern Coalfield
Submissions to the Southern Coalfield Independent Expert Panel
The Southern Coalfield Independent Expert Panel received 56 written submissions. Copies these submissions are provided below.
List of submissions
01. Department of Environment and Climate Change
02. EPA Board
03. Sydney Catchment Authority
04. Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority
05. Association of Mining Related Councils Inc.
06. Campbelltown City Council
07. Council of Camden
08. Friends of the Nepean
09. Macarthur Greens
10. National Parks Association (Macarthur)
11. National Parks Association (Southern Highlands)
12. Nature Conservation Council of NSW
13. Nepean Action Group
14. Northern Illawarra Aboriginal Collective
15. Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group
16. Rivers SOS
17. Robertson Environmental Protection Society
18. Save Water Alliance
19. Sutherland Shire Council
20. Tahmoor Colliery Community Consultative Committee
21. Wingecarribbee Shire Council
22. Wollondilly Shire Council
23. Wollongong City Council
24. BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal
25. Centennial Coal Company Limited
25a. Centennial Coal Company Limited
26. Helensburgh Coal Pty Limited
27. India NRE Minerals Limited
28. NSW Minerals Council Limited
29. One Steel Limited
30. Margaret Armstrong
31. Nolene Baker
32. Tom Chapman
33. Barry Durman
34. JE and CD Imrie
35. Martin Krogh
36. Ms Mim Merrick
37. Jill Merrin
38. Elizabeth Michie
39. Penny and Larry Osterhaus
40. Mirabei Peart
41. Anne Reeves
42. Lee Rhiannon MLC
43. Removed at submittor's request
44. AI Tonking
45. Dr Ann Young
46. Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority
47. Total Environment Centre
48. Caroline Graham
49. West Thirlmere Progress Association
50. Local Government and Shires Associations
51. Georges River Environment Action Team
52. CFMEU
53. Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
54. Submission not publicly available online
55. Cubbitch Barta Native Title Claimants Aboriginal Corporation
56. Department of Water and Energy
Previous
Central West rural lands inquiry
Notice of panel: 8 February 2007
Panel members: Garry West (Chair); Jock Laurie, NSW Farmers Association; Bill Gillooly AM, Secretary-General, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW; and, Gabrielle Kibble AO, Town Planner
Call for written submissions: By 19 April 2007
Panel hearings: From 24 April to 21 May 2007
Panel report and recommendations: Review of land use planning in the Central West - 22 August 2007
More information: Terms of reference and notice of public hearings ; map of Central West region ; media release - February 2007 ; media release - March 2007
Review of Warnervale town centre options
Date of appointment: 22 June 2006
Advisor: Peter Seamer
Report and recommendations:Report to the Director General - 10 September 2006
More information: Media release
Review of sensitive urban lands on South Coast
Notice of panel: 8 June 2006
Panel members: Dr Andrew Refshauge (Chair); Mr Vince Berkhout, Town Planner, Cite Urban Strategies; Dr David Robertson, Ecologist, Cumberland Ecology
Call for written submissions: By 5 July 2006
Panel hearings: Commenced 17 July 2006
Panel reports and recommendations: 20 October 2006
More information:
The independent Review Panel appointed by the Minister for Planning to review sensitive urban lands on the South Coast has finalised its report and provided its recommendations to the Minister.
Panel report to the Minister for Planning October 2006 ( 2.3 MB)
Departmental letter in relation to a reference in the panel's report to the Jezreel Consortium proposal (26 October 2006)
The panel was asked to review a number of sensitive urban lands identified in the draft South Coast Regional Strategy (see Appendix 2), as well as an additional site at Comberton Grange. Its terms of reference were to:
- review the suitability of each site for urban development and the scale and type of any recommended land release, having regard to the site's biophysical constraints, servicing and infrastructure issues
- advise on the priority and timing of any recommended releases for urban development, including an assessment against forecast population growth trends
- advise on what (if any) alternate land uses might be suitable for each site in the event that urban development is not considered suitable.
Background Paper
Attached maps of individual sites:
Bega Valley local government area sites
Eurobodalla local government area sites
Shoalhaven local government area sites
Review of Queanbeyan land releases
Notice of panel: 9 May 2006
Panel members: Mr Brian Gilligan (chair); Ms Julie Bindon, Chief Executive Officer, JBA Urban Planning Consultants; and Mr Ken Matthews, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Water Commission
Call for written submissions: 9 May to 9 June 2006
Panel hearing: 27 June 2006
Panel report and recommendations: 1 September 2006
More information:
The Independent Review Panel appointed by the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor MP to review current rezoning proposals for residential land in the Queanbeyan City Council area has finalised its report and provided its recommendations to the Minister.
Panel's Report to the NSW Minister for Planning (August 2006)
Main Report
Appendix 1
Figure 1. Queanbeyan inquiry sites
Figure 2. Canberra spatial and inquiry sites
Figure 3. Regional context of proposed sites
Minister's media release (1 September 2006)
Terms of reference
The panel in its review was asked to take into consideration:
- cross-border planning and service delivery arrangements between the ACT and NSW governments, including the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the NSW and ACT governments on Cross Border Water Resources
- the availability of water to sustain Queanbeyan's growth over the next thirty years, including to the new development areas
- the need to achieve orderly and economic development, including the need for upfront infrastructure investment
- the sequencing of land releases including the timing and prioritisation of various proposals
- any specific matters that might support, limit or curtail the development of the areas under consideration.
Background paper (May 2006)
Review of certain planning matters in Cowra Shire
Notice of panel: 19 December 2005
Panel members: Adrian Galasso, barrister (chair)
Call for written submissions: 19 December 2005 to 10 February 2006
Panel hearing: 9 March 2006
Panel report and recommendations: 6 April 2006
More information:
The Independent Review Panel appointed by Minister Sartor to review certain planning matters in Cowra Shire has finalised its report and provided its recommendations to the Minister.
The Independent Review Panel, chaired by barrister Adrian Galasso, was appointed in December last year to investigate and advise the Minister on:
- A proposed interim amendment to the Cowra Local Environmental Plan (LEP);
- Possible planning errors made by Cowra Shire Council;
- What actions the Government should take to address planning issues in Cowra Shire; and
- The appropriateness of current actions being undertaken by Cowra Shire Council in supporting the orderly and sustainable development of the Cowra area.
The Panel received written submissions from a total of 60 parties and held a public forum in Cowra at which 19 interested parties presented their arguments.
The Panel reported to the Minister in March and its report is available below:
The Panel’s principal recommendations are that:
- Cowra LEP 1990 (Amendment 14) be made as a matter of priority with a minimum lot size of 400ha inserted at clauses 12(3) and 17A(b).
- On balance, no further action be taken with respect to planning consents given by the Cowra Shire Council that may be uncertain.
- Cowra Shire Council be urged to publish and/or republish section 101 notices with respect to planning consents given by the Council that may be uncertain.
In addition, the Panel is of the view that the current actions being taken by Cowra Shire Council to ensure that orderly and sustainable development of the Cowra Shire are appropriate, subject to periodic review.
- Media release announcing Minister Sartor's decision to amend the Cowra LEP in line with the Panel’s recommendation
Review of Orica's HCB waste storage and destruction
Date of appointment: 25 August 2004
Panel Members: Mr Tony Wright (chair), Deputy Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority Board; Mr John Court, Environmental engineering consultant; Professor Gary Smith, Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW.
Report and recommendations: Report to the Minister - November 2006
More information: Media release