Regional Planning Panels were introduced in NSW in 2009. They determine ‘regionally significant development applications (DAs) and other planning matters’. There are four regional Planning Panels in NSW. They are the middle tier of planning assessment. Council does ‘little things’ and Sydney does ‘big ones’. No corruption to see here.
Luckily, two of the five members of the NRPP can be appointed by Council.
Byron Council will nominate two members for the Panel, and two alternatives. At least one member should have expertise in planning, architecture, heritage, environment, urban design, land economics, traffic and transport, law, engineering, or tourism. The other just needs a good heart.
The Panel acts like Council and receives a planning report prepared by a Council planner. Council presents the report and speaks to it at the NRPP public determination hearing. There are currently six DAs before the Panel in Byron Shire. These include two for protection works on Clarkes Beach; a 130-lot subdivision at Brunswick Heads; a residential/retail proposal in Jonson Street; Council’s own Bioenergy Facility near the Byron Bay STP; and a Mixed Use development at Broken Head.
I ask locals who have the skills, and those who just care, to apply (https://bit.ly/3oMsrnb) before Expressions of Interest close on 4 March. The EOI process is via Council’s website.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
