Determination Panels

When a Development Application (DA) is considerably large, contentious or regionally significant, it is referred by Council staff to one of the following Panels for a decision.

Local Development

Willoughby Local Planning Panel (WLPP)

The WLPP is a body of respected independent professionals with extensive expertise in a range of disciplines relevant to development assessment. DAs referred to the WLPP include those:

  • Where Council, Councillors or staff are the applicant or owner
  • Seeking to depart from a development standard by more than 10%
  • Where 10 or more objections from different households are received
  • Designated development
  • Including residential flat buildings where SEPP 65 applies, sex services premises, demolition of a heritage item, new licenced premise (i.e. club, hotel, public entertainment venues)
  • Accompanied by a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA)

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Sydney North Planning Panel (SNPP)

The SNPP is a state government established body appointed to make merit-based decisions on:

  • General development with a capital investment value (CIV) of over $30 million
  • Council or Crown development with a capital investment value (CIV) of over $5 million
  • Private infrastructure and community facilities with a capital investment value (CIV) of over $5 million
  • Extinctive industries, waste facilities and marinas that are designated development.

The Panel consists of two representatives of Council and three state-appointed members. The two Willoughby City Council members are the Mayor Tanya Taylor and Councillor Brendon Zhu.

The NSW Planning Panels website lists applications to be determined by the SNPP, including the application documents.

For an application determined by the SNPP:

  1. The application is notified to surrounding property owners and assessed by a Council Officer
  2. Any interested person or group may make a submission
  3. The Council officer provides a report and recommendation to the SNPP
  4. The Council officer's report and recommendation is available prior to the SNPP meeting
  5. The Environmental Services Director provides a copy of the officer's report to Council prior to the SNPP to see if the Council wishes to make a submission
  6. The SNPP is not bound to adopt the Council officer's recommendation or the Councils submission in its determination
  7. An applicant can appeal a decision of the SNPP to the Land and Environment Court

State Significant Development

Independent Planning Commission

The NSW Independent Planning Commission determines State significant development applications where there is significant opposition from the community.

A number of projects have been assessed by the Independent Planning Commission in Willoughby.

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