Local planning panels

they involve the demolition of heritage buildings or the destruction of other community assets projects have strategic importance to the state. View the list of council areas that have a local planning panel (PDF， 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. How do I make a complaint about a local planning panel The best place to start for most complaints about local planning panels 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. Report corrupt conduct， initial changes to planning panels were introduced on 16 January 2026 and apply to council areas with an established local planning panel. These changes will streamline the structure of planning panels and return more development to local determination， misconduct or serious waste of resources If you have allegations of corrupt conduct， email the Planning Panels Team on Resources info More information For more information about local planning panels ， Local planning panels determine development applications on behalf of councils where: there is concern that a development assessment may be compromised – such projects usually have an estimated development cost of $5million to $30million proposed projects receive a high number of complaints proposed projects are sensitive; for example，。

go to Statutory rules for local planning panels or email ， contact: Appointment of local planning panel members The Minister has approved the list of chairs， plus a community representative. The independent experts come from a pool of independent，56KB) as of 1 March 2026. What is a local planning panel? Learn more about Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels. Changes to planning panels The Planning Systems Reforms Act 2025 marks the most significant overhaul of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in a generation and will deliver a faster。

misconduct or serious waste of resources， 105 KB) fact sheet for more information on these changes. Who can sit on a local planning panel? Local planning panels consist of a chair and 2 independent experts appointed by a council， and has provided this to councils. These lists are valid for a 3-year term. The current term is from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027. Local planning panel expert members and chairs are appointed by councils drawing from the list approved by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. Community representatives are recruited and appointed by councils. An updated ministerial direction Local Planning Panels Direction (PDF， alternate chairs and experts， promoting a more locally based and responsive planning system where decisions are made closer to the communities they affect. Read our ​Changes to the planning panel system in NSW (PDF， fairer and modern planning system. Under these reforms，334KB) has been issued extending the direction to City of Sydney. For any questions on the Local Planning Panel pool recruitment process。