Expressions of Interest - Lismore Planning Panel

The EOI process has now concluded.

The NSW Government has announced the creation of a local planning panel for Lismore. The panel will be made up of independent experts and community representatives to determine contentious and complex development applications and provide advice on other planning matters. The panel has been created as to speed up and improve the predictability of land and housing planning processes to support flood recovery efforts.

Lismore City Council is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from Lismore residents who would be interested in joining the planning panel. Community representatives are not expected to be experts in planning matters but bring local knowledge and experience to the decision-making process.

Lismore Council is seeking to appoint a minimum of four (4) community representatives to a pool that can be utilised as needed. Councillors, property developers and real estate agents are ineligible to be panel members.

Selection Criteria for community representatives:

• are current residents within the LGA
• have an understanding of the LGA and issues of concern to the local community
• have the capacity to form independent views and to contribute constructively to the determination of applications
• are able to demonstrate a basic level of understanding of the planning system, (i.e. knowledge of the council’s local environmental plan, development control plan, local strategic planning statement or community strategic plan)
• are committed to following the Code of Conduct for Local Planning Panel Members and the Local Planning Panels Operational Procedures; and attending local planning panel meetings and completing panel business in required timeframes.

Expressions of interest are open until Tuesday, January 31.

The Lismore Planning Panel will commence its functions as soon as practicable after February 13, 2023.

Who will be on the Lismore Planning Panel?

The Lismore Planning Panel will include 4 members:

• a minister-appointed chair with expertise in law or government and public administration
• 2 independent experts appointed by Lismore City Council (from a minister-endorsed pool of candidates) with expertise in one or more of the following fields:
  • planning
  • architecture
  • heritage
  • the environment
  • urban design
  • economics
  • traffic and transport
  • law
  • engineering
  • tourism
  • government and public administration.
• a community representative appointed by Lismore City Council to ensure local insights and knowledge are considered as part of the panel’s decision-making.

The statutory requirements for members and details of remuneration can be found at https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Assess-and-Regulate/Development-Assessment/Local-Planning-Panels/Statutory-rules