The NSW Minister for Planning and Housing has announced Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAPs) will become mandatory for all councils in Sydney and Wollongong to “guard against corruption and lead to better local planning decisions”.

All development applications valued between $5M and $30M will now be sent to the new panels for assessment.

This should assist better planning. Each panel will include three independent expert members and a local community member and be subject to statutory rules including a compulsory code of conduct and operational procedures.

In a statement, Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts said the IHAPS would ensure the Govt has a “transparent and accountable process” for assessing DAs when there is a conflict of interest for the council or developer or when they are of a “sensitive nature”.

On his Facebook page however, he was far more candid:

“Today I introduced legislation to end the dodgy and dirty backroom deals that have gone on for far too long inside local councils. The introduction of mandatory Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels across Greater Sydney mean that shonky developers and their mates will no longer be able to flaunt their power with elected Councillors in order to get their DAs through. To the lurk merchants and spivs who inhabit the dark corridors of Council Chambers across Sydney, your trade is done. Get another job. The jig is up. The NSW Government is done with your corrupt and dodgy behaviour.”

Either way, it’s a considerable change for NSW village and aged care providers looking to get their developments over the line.