Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP)
The Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) provides independent, merit-based decision making on regional development.
It is one of six regional panels in NSW and comprises of five members – three appointed by the Minister for Planning and two appointed by the relevant local council.
The Sydney East JRPP is chaired by the former Senior Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court Dr John Roseth and includes Woollahra Councillors Toni Zeltzer and Anthony Boskovitz, as well as the Executive Director of City Plan Strategy and Development Sue Francis and former government strategic planner David Furlong.
The Sydney East JRPP is the consent authority for the Kiaora Lands development application (DA). For the latest updates, please see News.
How does the JRPP operate?
The JRPP was established to determine regionally significant development applications.
The NSW Government aims to provide greater transparency, objectivity and independence in the planning process through merit-based decision making. This builds community confidence in the planning system that the environment will be protected and community concerns will be addressed. It also provides the industry with the confidence that their applications are being dealt with promptly, fairly and professionally.
Importantly, concerning the Kiaora Lands DA, the JRPP is responsible for making the determination of proposals where the Council is the owner of any land on which the development is to be carried out or the Council is a party to any agreement or arrangement relating to the development and the value of the development is more than $5M.
The JRPP enhances the integrity of the decision-making process through:
Transparency:
- Decisions made on merit and in full view of the public.
- Qualified experts determining applications bound by legislation, Operational Guidelines and a Code of Conduct.
Rigour:
- Independent bodies which are not directed by determinations by the Minister or council.
- Fully resourced, the JRPP cuts through red tape and application waiting periods.
The step-by-step process
It is the responsibility of the relevant local council to carry out a proper and professional assessment of a proposal for the panel's determination of the DA.
Upon completion by the council assessment officer, the assessment report and recommendations are forwarded to the Panel Secretariat and form a part of the business papers which are distributed to panel members one week prior to the public panel meeting.
The public panel meeting is an important part of the determination process.
The meeting allows the panel to hear the community's feedback, as well as the recommendations in the assessment report before it makes a final decision. Presentations can be made by members of the public who have/have not made submissions to council and the applicant.
After hearing from parties, the panel makes its decision in an open forum.
For more information, visit the JRPP website.
Information © State of New South Wales through the Department of Planning