Welcome to the Joint Regional Planning Panels website. This website has been developed to keep councils, applicants and the community informed about the role and functions of the regional panels within the framework of the NSW planning system.
The regional panels provide independent, merit based decision making on regional development. Regional development is development which is notified and assessed by a local council and then determined by the relevant regional panel.
Each of the six regional panels is comprised of five members; three appointed by the Minister and two appointed by the relevant local council.
The regional panels commenced operation on 1 July 2009. As part of the government's reform of the NSW planning system, from 1 October 2011 changes have occurred to the classes of regional development and to the structure of the regional panels. Find out more.
The regional panels' operational procedures, code of conduct and complaint handling policy have recently been revised. The revised documents are available on the Department of Planning and Infrastructure’s website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au and here.
The changes to the policies and procedures have been informed by submissions received in March 2012 following public exhibition of the draft policies and procedures. A summary of submissions received and the action taken in response is available with the revised documents on the department's website and the regional panels' website.