Issues with procedures of Joint Regional Planning Panel

The Joint Regional Planning Panel conducted a meeting on January 24 to accept comments on the proposed 160-bed aged care facility at 45 Hillview St, Woy Woy.

There are issues with the meeting procedures that have been referred to the Panel's Secretariat and the Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.

Advice from the Secretariat regarding time available for the development applicant to address the Panel is that it is now open to the discretion of the Panel's chairman.

Previously it was thought the applicant's time to address the Panel was 15 minutes or thereabouts.

The lack of transparency extends to favour the Panel as there is no review mechanism to refer matters of objection.

The Panel Secretariat also advised there will be a further public meeting on the proposal.

I have requested an officer of the Panel Secretariat and the Department of Planning and Environment attend that hearing as a witness and also publicly discuss the proceedings of the aforementioned meeting.

I believe it cannot be assumed that the Planning Panel members have read all the submissions and documentation before the meeting, as objectors were advised prior to the meeting.

Letter, 5 Mar 2019

Norm Harris, Umina