Council established a Development Assessment Panel (DAP) as the relevant authority pursuant to Section 56A of the Development Act 1993. 

The Development Assessment Panel operates separately from Council as a development assessment authority and has its own procedures, terms of reference and protocols.

Code of Conduct

Members of the Development Assessment Panel are required to strictly adhere to the State Government's Code of Conduct. Any complaints regarding a Development Assessment Panel Member's conduct can be forwarded to Council's Public Officer.

    Development Assessment Panel Operating Procedures  (53 kb)
    Code of Conduct for Development Assessment Panel Members  (26 kb)
    Terms of Reference for Development Assessment Panel  (30 kb)

Development Assessment Panel Members 

The Development Assessment Panel has a total of seven members. There are three Elected Members and four independent members on the Panel. These are:

Gavin Lloyd-Jones (Presiding Member)
Richard Woods (Deputy Presiding Member)
Chris Adcock (Cr)
Mark Ward (Cr)
Elaine Grimm (Cr)
Anthony Kelly
Vacant

Panel members determine applications based on an assessment against the relevant provisions of Council's Development Plan.

Meeting Dates

Ordinary meetings of the Development Assessment Panel are scheduled on the first Thursday of the month, starting at 6.30 pm. Special meetings may be held as and when required.

Applications are listed on the agenda in their respective category of notification and types of development. Each item on the agenda is dealt with in turn. 

Making a Verbal Presentation to the Panel

Development Act Section 38 (10) specifies the requirements regarding representors and applicants rights at being heard in support of their representation or application.

Representors who have indicated that they wish to be heard for Category 3 applications will be called forward in turn to address the Panel. Once all the representors have been heard the applicant will have a chance to address the Development Assessment Panel.

In regards to Category 2 applications - the Development Assessment Panel may, in its absolute discretion, allow a person who made representation address the Development Assessment Panel. If representors have been heard then the applicant will have a chance to address the Development Assessment Panel.

Category 1 applications - the applicant does not have the right to address the Development Assessment Panel in regards to their application.

Members of the Development Assessment Panel would have viewed written representations as part of their agenda, so it is suggested that representors take the opportunity to outline their main concerns.

Development Assessment Decision Process

After hearing the representations and the applicant's response (if applicable) the Development Assessment Panel will discuss the proposal and may seek clarification from Council's planning staff. They will then take into consideration the assessment report, Development Plan and representations made in the decision making. The Presiding Member of the Development Assessment Panel will call for a vote amongst the members of the Development Assessment Panel. Once a decision has been reached the Presiding Member of the Development Assessment Panel will inform the gallery of the outcome.