Expression of Interest

Woollahra Council Community Representatives on the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel (SECPP)

Do you want to contribute to your community?
Submit your Expression of Interest today

Sydney District and Regional Planning Panels (Planning Panels) are independent bodies that strengthen decision making on regionally significant development applications and other planning matters including certain planning proposals and Aboriginal land planning. 

Sydney planning panels are established for each of the six districts within the Greater Sydney Region and were introduced to NSW in 2009 to strengthen decision making on regionally significant development applications and other planning matters. 'Regionally significant development' is generally development with a Capital Investment Value (CIV) over $30 million. 

The local government areas which fall within the Sydney District are Bayside Council, Burwood Council, City of Canada Bay, Inner West Council, Randwick City Council, Strathfield Council, Waverley Council and Woollahra Council. Woollahra Council provides members to the SECPP.
 
There are five Sydney Planning Panels and four Regional Planning Panels across NSW. Each panel is an independent body that is not subject to the direction of the Minister of Planning and Public Spaces.
 
The constitution, functions and membership requirements of Sydney planning panels are set down in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). 

The Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel (SECPP) is made up of five members. Three members including the chair are appointed by the Minister for Planning and another two Council members. A number of Council Members (Councillors) have already been are appointed by a Resolution of Council, however Council are now seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a further three (3) alternate Council Members of the SECPP from the community for a period of up to two (2) years from the time of appointment.  

Selection of Alternate Council Members from the Community

We are seeking EOI’s from community members who reside within the Woollahra LGA and have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • Planning;
  • Architecture;
  • Heritage;
  • The environment;
  • Urban design;
  • Land economics;
  • Traffic and transport law;
  • Engineering; or
  • Tourism.

Property developers and real estate agents are not eligible to be members, should you be successful in being appointed as an alternate Council Member of the SECPP, then you will be required to sign a statutory declaration stating that you are not a property developer or real estate agent.

As part of the EOI process Council will undertake probity checks on all short-listed Applicants. This will include a bankruptcy record check and National Police Check. These checks are in line with the checks and declarations required for State Members.

These roles are fee paying, the current rates for Council Members attending formal meetings of the SECPP are: 

  • A daily rate of $1,435 for attending the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel (meetings); and 
     
  • A per hour allowance of $205/hour (pro-rata) with a minimum one hour’s rate up to a maximum amount per day of $1,435 for attending official site inspections and briefings of the Panel.

For more information about the SECPP go to Sydney District & Regional Planning Panels Operational Procedures.

For further information on the Planning Panels go to NSW Government's Planning Panels website.

If you would like to express an interest in joining the SECPP an as Alternate Council Member for Woollahra Council, please complete the relevant Expression of Interest Form. 

Applications must be made by completing the ‘Expression of Interest Form’ and accompanied by an attached cover letter addressing the selection criteria and area of expertise.

Enquiries

Jennifer Chenhall, Manager Governance and Risk - jennifer.chenhall@woollahra.nsw.gov.au

Phone 02 9391 7012

Applications must be lodged by no later than close of business on Thursday 27 February 2025.

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