Input sought for Local Planning Panel

Community members are being sought to give local input into decisions made by the Local Planning Panel.

It’s a paying job, offering $500 per meeting and $71 an hour for business outside of meetings.

Community members would be working with a chair and two independent experts, all of whom are appointed by the State Minister for Planning, not Central Coast Council.

The chair gets $2,000 per meeting and the experts get $1,500 per meeting.

Community representatives are appointed by Council to bring local knowledge and experience to the Panel which makes decisions on development on the Coast such as  potential conflict of interest developments, contentious developments and applications that depart from development standards.

The Panel also gives advice on planning proposals which are about rezoning land to allow particular developments and other strategic planning matters.

Community members are not expected to be experts in planning matters but Council is asking for a basic understanding of the planning system.

That means having some knowledge of Council’s Local Environment Plan, Development Control Plan, Local Strategic Planning statement and Community Strategic Plan.

A community representative is needed to address matters for each of the Coast’s five wards.

Community representatives can represent one or more wards.

Applications close on June 18 at https://centralcoast.applynow.net.au/jobs/CEN3670-expressions-of-interest-local-planning-panel-member