The gateway panel is being set up to rule on new resources projects as part of the government’s strategic regional land use policy.

The panel will assess the agriculture and water impacts of development proposals and issue a gateway certificate allowing a proposal to proceed.

Announcing details about the panel on Thursday, Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said members would need to have expertise in the fields of agricultural science, hydrogeology, mining or petroleum development.

“A pool of independent experts will be established from which the panel can be drawn,” he said.

The government’s advertisement in Friday newspapers says applicants must declare any “potential conflicts of interest”, singling out prior employment with mining or coal seam gas companies as an example.

No mention is made of other potential conflicts of interest – say, membership of an environmental group or the NSW Farmers Federation, which has called for some farming areas to be quarantined from exploration.

Appointments to the panel are for a three-year term.

Applicants should contact recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson.