The Future of Development Assessment Panels

LG Leader June 2014

The Minister for Planning, John Rau, has long stated his opposition to council and regional development assessment panels in their current form, particularly Elected Member representation. Minister Rau’s view has long been that if DAPs are to exist at all, they should consist solely of independent (non-elected) members and, possibly, should all be run at a regional, rather than an individual council, level.

In the lead up to the March State election, the Liberal Party’s position was to support the continued existence of DAPs in their current form. However, the Shadow Minister for Planning, Steven Griffiths, has recently been voicing his own dissatisfaction with the operation of DAPs, albeit on different grounds.

Recently, Mr Griffiths expressed his opinion that some DAPs, particularly in more regional areas, are failing to attract sufficient skilled members to be in a position to make the best planning decisions for their communities. He also stated that, in some instances, requiring decisions to be made by DAPs can hold up the development approval process. Therefore, Mr Griffiths expressed his view that delegating more powers and functions presently performed by DAPs to council planning officers may be warranted.

We understand that the role of DAPs, as well as their membership, is a topic which the Expert Panel on Planning Reform is presently considering, having received many representations from community and business groups on this issue. Therefore, in light of the recent indications that both sides of politics favour change in this area, it appears likely that reforms will occur.