Expected to receive the duck farm application today, the Hunter Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) will go through the application but will not carry out their assessment until Singleton Council has put the application through all of its processes.

“Because this development has an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) it comes under the Designated Development criteria and all Designated Developments are referred to the JRPP,” explained Singleton Council senior town planner David Simon.

Mr Simon explained that an EIS was required by the proponent because of the proximity to a local water way.

“The farm is within 100 metres of the Macdonald River and they were asked to resubmit the application because the original plan did not meet council’s standards,” he explained.

Once the JRPP has received the application a meeting will be held by the panel to make a determination on the development.

Mayor of Singleton Councillor Sue Moore and council director operations Gary Woodman are the local representatives on the panel with councillor John Martin available if either Cr Moore or Mr Woodman cannot attend.

“Proponents and persons who make a submission may address the meeting, which should be held in Singleton or as close to as possible,” Mr Simon said.

Once the panel has made a decision it is final.

It is this part of the JRPP that makes Cr Moore uneasy.

“We will do our best to represent the community and can only encourage people to continue with submissions if they are concerned about an issue in a development application,” she explained.

Cr Moore said at a training session after the JRPP was announced by the New South Wales Planning Department, she was assured that it would not limit the community’s ability to comment on important development.

“Submissions can still be made and councillors can present to the panel on behalf of the community,” she explained.

The panel is made up of five State representatives and two local council members from each council within Hunter and Central Coast areas.