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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 24 July 2009 STATE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO JOINT REGIONAL PLANNING PANELS The NSW Government has today taken the next step in building Australia’s best planning system, appointing state members to the new Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs).
NSW Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said the 23 state-appointed members have expertise across a range of fields, which will help them make rigorous decisions on projects important to regional areas.
“The successful state nominees have an extensive range of experience and qualifications in areas such as town planning, management, architecture and law,” Ms Keneally said.
“The new panels, which will start making decisions from as early as next month, include three State Government appointed members and two members appointed from a relevant local council.
“These 23 people were selected from more than 300 people who put their names forward for consideration.”
Ms Keneally said the panels will determine development applications worth more than $10 million, or $5 million for community infrastructure or projects where council is the applicant.
“The panels are designed to provide a framework for strong decision making on regionally significant projects and have a balance of expertise, independence and local knowledge,” Ms Keneally said.
“It will be the job of the panels to stand in the shoes that previously would have been occupied by a council or the Minister, and make decisions on projects significant to a region.
“The appointment of the state-members to the panels is another clear step in taking the politics out of the planning process.” Ms Keneally said the JRPP State appointees are:
Sydney East: John Roseth (Chair), David Furlong and Mary-Lynne Taylor, with Julie Savet Ward and Timothy Moore as the alternates.
Sydney West: Janet Thompson (Chair), Bruce McDonald and Paul Mitchell, with Stuart McDonald and Lindsay Fletcher as alternates.
Hunter and Central Coast: Garry Fielding (Chair), Jason Perica and Kara Krason, with John Colvin and Bob McCotter as alternates.
Northern Region: Garry West (Chair), Pamela Westing and John Griffin, with Bruce Clarke as an alternate.
Southern Region: Pam Allan (Chair), Alison McCabe and Allen Grimwood, with David McGowan as an alternate.
Western Region: The appointment process for the State’s Western Region JRPP is currently underway and will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Ms Keneally said the majority of councils have already appointed their representatives to the Joint Regional Planning Panels.
“As of last week, some 102 of the 108 councils across NSW, not including the State’s Western region, had either nominated local members or asked for more time to do so,” Ms Keneally said.
“Together the state and local nominees on the panels are expected to start determining regionally significant development applications from as early as next month.”
Ms Keneally said a code of conduct and guidelines are in place for JRPPs, including strict rules in regard to conflict of interest issues. The costs of state members will be met by the NSW Government.
Further information on Joint Regional Planning Panels, including a list of frequently asked questions and state member biographies, is available at www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au.
What are Joint Regional Planning Panels?
Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs) will determine development proposals with a value between $10-100 million, subdivisions of more than 250 lots and specialist development proposals such as eco-tourism, with a value in excess of $5 million.
Each panel will contain three State and two local members.
Local council staff will publicly exhibit and assess development proposals which will then be determined by JRPPs.
The creation of JRPPs hands back the assessment of some major development proposals, including a number of coastal and residential, retail and commercial projects, from the NSW Government to local councils.
Members of the public will be able to address JRPPs about development proposals, similar to local council meetings.
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