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ARTICLE · 22 AUGUST 2017

NSW councils lose development approval powers to independent panels

Clayton Utz
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The changes aim to improve accountability and transparency in the DA approval process under the NSW planning framework.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
Nick Thomas
Nick Thomas
Tom Dougherty (Formerly With Clayton Utz)
Tom Dougherty (Formerly With Clayton Utz)
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Independent hearing and assessment panels will determine most development applications with capex above $5 million in the Greater Sydney Region, instead of local councils, under new proposed laws.

On 10 August 2017, the NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (Planning Act) in an effort to improve accountability and transparency in the development application (DA) approval process under the NSW planning framework.

A key feature of the Environmental Planning Assessment and Electoral Legislation Amendment (Planning Panels and Enforcement) Bill 2017 is the introduction of local planning panels (formerly known as independent hearing and assessment panels (IHAPs)).

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