The new independent Chair and state government appointed members of the Hunter and Central Coast JRPP are Jason Perica, Kara Krason, and Michael Leavey.

Krason and Perica, both Hunter and Central Coast JRPP members since 2009 are joined by Michael Leavey, a Hunter and Central Coast resident and regionally-based planning consultant.

Perica replaces Garry Fielding as chair. Fielding chaired the Planning Panel for nearly seven years but chose not to re-nominate for a further term.

Panels are independent planning bodies that make decisions on regionally significant applications valued at more than $20 million.

They are led by an independent Chair that has been appointed with the agreement of Local Government NSW and have four other members, with the state government and local councils each appointing two representatives.

State Panel members are appointed based on their expertise in either planning, architecture, heritage, the environment, urban design, land economics, traffic and transport, law, engineering, tourism or government and public administration, according to a Department spokesperson.

“Planning Panels are an important part of the planning system – ensuring independent decisions are made on projects that are significant to local communities,” the spokesperson said.

To ensure independence, alternate members are also appointed for when a member needs to sit out on a decision because of a conflict of interest.