Geoff Helisma
Councillors have unanimously appointed the mayor, Ian Tiley, and deputy mayor, Greg Clancy, to sit on the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP), with Cr Peter Johnstone selected as the alternative member when the need arises.
The NSW Government established regional planning panels on July 1, 2009, “to strengthen decision making for regionally significant development and certain other planning functions under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 [EP&A Act]”.
“The panels are independent bodies representing the Crown and are not subject to the direction of the Minister, except in some limited circumstances,” the report to January 20 extraordinary council meeting stated.
“There are nine planning panels across NSW, including the NR Planning Panel.”
The NRPP is tasked to “determine regionally significant development applications (DA), certain other DAs and related modification applications, which include regional development as outlined in Schedule 7 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011: DAs with a capital investment value over $30 million; and, council-related DAs with a capital investment value over $5 million.”
The panel also “acts as the planning proposal authority when directed, undertakes rezoning reviews, provides advice on other planning and development matters when requested, and determines site compatibility certificates under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004”.
Mayor Tiley advised councillors at the meeting that it is “really important that we have representation on this five-person panel, for occasions such as James Creek” – a subdivision that was recently on exhibition that is yet to come before council.
The EP&A Act requires that councils appoint two members to the panel, with “at least one of the council nominees [being] a person who has expertise in at least one area of planning, architecture, heritage, the environment, urban design, land economics, traffic and transport, law, engineering or tourism”.
Mayor Tiley said he was “willing, as mayor, to be on this panel; as you know, I have extensive, long-term planning experience”.
“Who else would like to nominate?
“Cr Clancy, also with extensive experience.”
Cr/Dr Clancy is an ecologist who has completed PhD studies.
Cr Peter Johnstone said he was “happy to be the alternative”.
Property developers and real estate agents are not eligible to be members of a panel.