Development Assessment Panels

Development Assessment Panels are independent decision-making bodies with the power to determine high value development applications in Western Australia. The panels contain five members—three industry professionals and two elected members of the local government. The purpose of the panels is to introduce more consistent decision-making into the determination of development applications and to refocus the attention of elected members in local governments on higher-level strategic planning and policy matters. The panels share characteristics of panels set up by other Australian states for similar reasons.

Background

Development Assessment Panels where introduced to Western Australia in 2011 by the Barnett government with support from the opposition Labor party. The removal of the decision-making power from elected Councillors was opposed by the Western Australian Local Government Association,[1] the Local Government Planners Association[2] and some members of the community.[3]

Controversy

Community opposition

Most DAP approvals where uncontroversial, however since 2011, several projects received DAP approval over strong community objections and resulting media coverage. This included an approval for the Lumier apartment development in South Perth which was overturned following an appeal to the Supreme Court in 2016.[4]

Scrap the DAP

Scrap the DAP was a community campaign during the 2017 Western Australian state election advocating for the abolition of independent Development Assessment Panels.[5][6][7] The campaign was supported by 21 Councils of 38 metropolitan local governments[8] and opposed by groups associated with the property and development industry.[9] The movement was not endorsed by either major party, although community concerns where acknowledged.[10] Following the election, many of the individuals associated with the movement have continued to advocate for the reform or abolition of the panels under various other slogans and community associations. No council has passed a motion condemning the DAP process since 2017.

References
  1. Development Assessment Panels 2011-20 Review (2020) Western Australian Local Government Association.
  2. Young, Emma (1 March 2016). "Development assessment panel anger to be key for 2017 election campaign: WA expert". WA Today. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. Shine, Rhiannon (1 August 2015). "Dodgy DAP system slammed" (PDF). The Cambridge Post. Retrieved 2 December 2020 – via Doc Share.
  4. McNeill, Heather (21 February 2016). "South Perth residents win legal bid to have $60 million high-rise approval quashed". WA Today. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  5. Turner, Rebecca (22 July 2016). "DAP debate: John Day dismisses 'cause célèbre' opposition to WA development approvals panels". ABC News. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. "City Ward Councillor Agrees: 'Scrap the DAP'". The Fremantle Society. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  7. Jestribek, Hana (21 March 2016). "Development assessment panels become a hot election issue for WA". The Fifth Estate. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  8. Leaver, Kate; Bassett, Jon (25 July 2016). "Stirling residents united in bid to 'scrap the DAP'". Perth Now. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. "Retainment of the Current Development Assessment Panels (DAP) Model". Property Council of Australia. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  10. Young, Emma (21 March 2016). "Scrap the DAP: Perth councils rally against development assessment panels". WA Today. Retrieved 3 December 2020.


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