Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel

Agendas: Including reports can be viewed on this website from Friday afternoon prior to the meeting.

Minutes: Can be viewed on this website from Friday week following the IHAP meeting.

 

Agendas and Minutes
 2013 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Minutes 6th 6th 10th 8th 5th 3rd 7th 4th 9th

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From 1 July 2013, Waverley Council will commence a trial of an Independent Planning Panel to determine significant Development Applications in the Waverley LGA. This Panel will replace the current Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel and will have expanded powers.

This will help streamline the planning process. It also means that Councillors will no longer be involved in the decision-making process for determining those Development Applications, allowing them more time to focus on strategic planning issues, such as the planning controls that underpin DA decisions.

Have your say

We are currently inviting comment on a series of draft documents that have been prepared to provide the framework for the operation of the new Panel:

The draft documents can also be viewed at the Customer Service Centre, 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction, at Waverley Library, 32-48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction and on our Have Your Say Waverley site www.haveyoursaywaverley.com.au/wipp

You can submit your comments in writing, quoting reference A13/0229, via mail to Waverley Council, PO Box 9, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355 or email to waver@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Submissions will close COB on Wednesday 22 May 2013.


Addressing the Panel

If you wish to address the Panel regarding an item on the agenda please contact the IHAP Administrator on 9369 8273 to register no later than 12 noon on the day of the meeting.

If you address the Panel, your name will be included in the minutes of the hearing unless you request that it not be included.

Should you have any further questions contact the Administrator during business hours on 9369 8273.

About the Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel


What is it?

The Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel provides an independent hearing forum for objectors and applicants on certain development applications. The Panel strives to assess these applications in an ethical and professional manner, independent of Council.

Panel Members

The Panel Members are independent of Council. Each Panel will consist of a specialist from the disciplines of Law, Architecture/Urban Design, Planning / Environmental/Social. Specialist members neither reside nor are employed in the Waverley Council area. The Panel also has a local representative to ensure that Waverley Council’s community interests are considered.

The Panel Members will be introduced on the meeting night. The quorum for a meeting of the Panel is 3 members. Council staff will attend to provide technical advice on Council’s controls or answer questions if required.

The Report on the application is prepared by Council’s Development & Building Unit ( DBU )  for consideration and includes a full assessment of the proposal, the objections made and a suitable recommendation.

When & where is it?

The Panel meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm. Meetings are held at the Council Chambers on Level 3, Corner of Paul Street and Bondi Road. Prior to the meeting the Panel members will undertake an inspection of the sites to be considered at the meeting.

Types of development applications referred to the Panel

Development applications that are referred to the Panel include:

  • Applications requested by Council or a Council committee to be so referred;
  • Applications determined by Council’s Director of Planning and Environmental Services to be particularly significant or controversial;
  • Designated development;
  • Applications, with the exception of those relating to single storey dwellings, with more than six significant unresolved objections;
  • Applications made by Council, or located upon Council owned-land unless determined by Council’s Director of Planning and Environmental Services to be routine and insignificant; and
  • Applications made by Councillors or Council staff or located upon land owned by Councillors or Council staff unless determined by Council’s Director of Planning and Environmental Services to be routine and insignificant


How does IHAP work?

The Chairperson opens the meeting and introduces the Panel members. The order of business is set out in the agenda. Copies of the agenda will be available at the meeting.

As each item is referred to, the objectors are invited to speak. The applicant will then be offered the opportunity to respond. The Panel members may ask Questions of the addressees.

Speakers should bear in mind that the Panel members have had the report for a few days and it is not necessary to repeat information that has been provided in the report.

Speakers may table photographs etc if they wish at the meeting.

After receiving all of the submissions on all the items, the meeting will be closed. The Panel will then adjourn to consider all of the relevant issues, make a recommendation and prepare minutes to be included in the Development & Building Units report for consideration at the next meeting of Council's Development Control Committee