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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 15 September 2009 MEMBERS FOR NEW WESTERN REGION JOINT REGIONAL PLANNING PANEL The NSW Government today announced State-appointed members of the new Western Region Joint Regional Planning Panel. Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said the Panel will provide expertise, independence and local knowledge on regionally-significant planning issues in the Western Region. “The State-appointees have extensive experience in fields such as urban and regional planning, management, public service and tourism,” Ms Keneally said. “Like panels throughout the State, the Western Regional Panel will include three State-appointed members and two locally-appointed members from the relevant local council. “It will be the job of the panel 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.” 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 appointment of these independent members on the Panel is another clear step in taking the politics out of the planning process, and creating Australia’s best planning system,” Ms Keneally said. FACT SHEET: MEMBERS OF WESTERN REGION JOINT REGIONAL PLANNING PANEL GABRIELLE KIBBLE AO (Chair) Gabrielle Kibble is the Chair of the Heritage Council of New South Wales; Chair of the Planning Assessment Commission; and Administrator of Wollongong City Council. Gabrielle was also the Chair of Sydney Water from August 1998 to May 2007. Gabrielle has extensive experience in the public sector, particularly in urban planning and infrastructure development. Between 1987 and 1997 she was the Director General of the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning. From 1992 until 1994, Gabrielle was also Director General of the NSW Department of Housing. Gabrielle has a Bachelor of Arts and also a Diploma of Town and Country Planning from the University of Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute. In 1997 she received the Sidney Luker Memorial medal of the Royal Australian Planning Institute for an outstanding contribution to urban planning in NSW. In 1994, Gabrielle became an Officer of the Order of Australia. In June 1999, the University of NSW conferred on her the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa. RUTH FAGAN Ruth Fagan has extensive experience in a wide range of community services including local government, tourism, small business and cultural planning, serving on the Board of Tourism NSW from 1998 to 2008, and as a member of the NSW Regional Flagship Events panel for 10 years. As a resident of Cowra for 28 years, Ruth Fagan has held a number of regional leadership roles, acting as Chairman of the Cowra Tourism Corp from 1989 to 2003 and serving as a Councillor on Cowra Shire Council from 2004 to 2008. Ruth has also been Director and Board Member of the Central West Community College since March 2006 and the Regional Manager for the NSW Cancer Council Ruth holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Charles Sturt University and is also a Justice of the Peace. GORDON KIRKBY Gordon Kirkby has 17 years’ experience in both private and public sectors as an urban and regional planning expert, holding a number of senior positions at the NSW Department of Planning from 1992 to 2006, including as Director of Strategic Assessments and Director of Urban Assessments. During this time, Gordon worked as part of the Western Region team on a number of major manufacturing and rural industry projects. Since 2006, Gordon has managed a broad range of major urban renewal, greenfield and industrial projects as an Associate at JBA Urban Planning Consultants, and was appointed Partner in April 2008. Gordon holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney. MARK GRAYSON (Alternate) Mark Grayson has held a number of senior roles in both local and State Government planning across rural NSW, including as a senior planner at Shoalhaven City, Penrith City, Yass Valley, and Wollongong City Councils. Mark also has six years’ experience with the NSW Department of Planning, as Acting Director of Regional Coordination and as Manager of Local and Regional Planning for the Southern Region. Here Mark played a key role in managing the regional plan making process for 37 regional councils in the south west of NSW, including the whole of the Murray, and led interstate Murray planning initiatives as well as regional planning forums.
The Western Region covers 43 local government areas, including the following council areas: Balranald Bathurst Regional Berrigan Bland Blayney Bogan Bourke Brewarrina Broken Hill City Cabonne Carrathool Central Darling Cobar Conargo Coonamble Corowa Shire Cowra Deniliquin Dubbo City Forbes Gilgandra Griffith City Hay Jerilderie Lachlan Leeton City of Lithgow Mid-Western Regional Murray Murrumbidgee Narrandera Narromine Oberon Orange City Parkes Urana Wakool Walgett Warren Warrumbungle Shire Weddin Wellington Wentworth
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