Before a state significant development (SSD) application comes to the Independent Planning Commission for determination, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) will have conducted a whole-of-government assessment on the Commission’s behalf. This means that DPHI has consulted all relevant government agencies and prepared an assessment report incorporating their views and advice.
The assessment report also includes key issues raised by the community in public submissions made to DPHI and an explanation of how these issues have been addressed. It contains the most up-to-date information about the proposed development.
DPHI's assessment report will contain its findings. If DPHI concludes a proposed development is approvable, it will also provide the Commission with recommended conditions of consent.
The Commission uses DPHI's assessment report as the starting point for its consideration of a proposed development; however, as an independent consent authority, it is free to make its own decision. If the Commission determines that a proposed development should proceed, it will impose conditions of consent that must be fulfilled by the developer if the developer chooses to carry out the development. If the Commission decides that a proposed development should not proceed, it will refuse consent and no conditions will be imposed.
Conditions are designed to minimise, mitigate, or avoid adverse impacts of the development. They seek to address a range of diverse matters, from placing limitations on noise or operating hours to requiring developers to consult with experts, such as for the ongoing management of biodiversity.
The conditions of consent imposed by the Commission often comprise some or all of the conditions that were recommended by DPHI, as well as conditions developed in response to issues raised in public submissions made to the Commission; however, the inclusion of conditions and their wording is a matter for the Commission’s independent judgment.
Conditions must be lawful and able to be complied with by developers. The Commission has no role in enforcing conditions but will always seek to impose conditions that work in practice.
In line with its commitment to open and transparent decision making, the Commission will typically engage a transcription service provider to record and transcribe what is said at public hearings, public meetings and any meetings held with stakeholders as part of its decision-making process, and will publish a written transcript on its website as soon as practicable after a meeting has concluded.
The Chair of the Commission panel reserves the right to not use a transcription service for a meeting and to redact a meeting transcript, including for (but not limited to) the following reason:
See the Commission’s Transparency Policy for more information.
We recognise the importance of community participation in our decision-making process. Using our ‘Make a submission’ form is the easiest way for you to make a submission on cases currently before the Commission.