Local Planning Panels

In Greater Sydney, local planning panels (LPPs) determine development applications on behalf of councils where:

• there is concern that a development assessment may be compromised – such projects usually have a capital investment of $5 million to $30 million
• proposed projects receive a high number of complaints
• proposed projects are sensitive; for example, they involve the demolition of heritage buildings or destruction of other community assets
• projects have strategic importance to the state.

LPPs consist of a chair and 2 independent experts appointed by a council, plus a community representative. The independent experts come from a pool of independent, qualified people who have been endorsed by a minister.

Independent experts must have qualifications in any of these fields:

• architecture
• economics
• engineering
• government and public administration.
• heritage
• law
• planning
• the environment
• tourism
• traffic and transport
• urban design

The best place to start for most complaints about LPPs is with your council.

The NSW Ombudsman can also deal with grievances.

The department can’t deal with complaints directly but we can direct them to an authority for response and resolution. We can also review the way your local council has handled your complaint.

If you have allegations of corrupt conduct, misconduct or serious waste of resources, contact:

• Audit Office of NSW
• Independent Commission Against Corruption
• NSW Ombudsman.

Panel expert members and chairs are selected from a pool of experts and chairs appointed by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for a 3-year term.

The current term for chairs, alternate chairs and most experts is due to expire in February 2024.

The department is recruiting a new pool of experts and chairs for the next 3-year term with an expression of interest intended to be issued later in January. The minister will appoint this pool by 30 June 2024 so that councils with an LPP can appoint their chairs and experts for the new term’s commencement on 1 July 2024.

A Ministerial direction Local Planning Panel Direction (PDF, 240 KB) has been issued which covers the interim approach.

For any questions on the LPP pool recruitment process, email the Planning Panels Team on [email protected]