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Independent planning assessment and review panels

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) [PDF]

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

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Note: The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Ku-ring-gai Council Planning Panel) Order 2007 was repealed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Ku-ring-gai Council Planning Panel) (Repeal) Order 2008 on 3 March 2008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:

Burwood town centre planning panel

Date of appointment: 20 July 2007
Panel members: Ms Sue Francis (chair), Ms Alison McCabe, and Mr Peter John Cantrill
More information:

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
More information: View

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: View
More information: View

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: More information:

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 [PDF]
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

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

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

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 [PDF]
More information: Media release [PDF]



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