The Planning Assessment Commission was established under Section 23B of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It is a statutory body representing the Crown.
The functions of the Commission are set out in Section 23D of the Act. The Commission's responsibilities are:
- To determine applications for approval of Part 3A projects and concept plans as delegated by the Minister for Planning with the exception of critical infrastructure projects.
- To review any aspect of a major project under Part 3A.
- To review all or any environmental aspects of a proposed development the subject of a development application or an activity (or part of it) referred to in section 112(1).
- To review a proposal to constitute, alter or abolish a development area under section 132 or 133.
- To act as a Joint Regional Planning Panel, an independent hearing and assessment panel, or a planning assessment panel.
- To advise the Minister as to planning or development matters, environmental planning instrument, or the administration of implementation of the provisions of the EP& Act.
The current delegation:
On 18 November 2008, the Minister for Planning delegated to the Planning Assessment Commission the function as a consent authority to determine a project application under section 75J and 75JA of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 if the application:
- has a reportable political donation; or
- is within the electoral district of the Minister for Planning; or
- in which the Minister has a pecuniary interest;
other than an infrastructure project where the proponent is a public authority except a local council.
The Minister may vary the current delegation by issuing a new delegation or a specific delegation for a project when required.