The state government is considering giving the responsibility to an independent panel – the idea was originally quashed in May but has re-entered cabinet discussions. 

It is unclear how a panel would be selected, whether a monetary threshold would apply and how it would relate to Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs), which determine DAs valued above $20 million, or $5 million if they are council-related, lodged by the Crown, community facilities or eco-tourist facilities. 

Mayor John Davis said up to 90 per cent of all DAs submitted to Orange City Council were already dealt with by staff under delegated authority, but he believed in councillors. 

“Country councils, in most cases, are very good on all decisions… and taking the local out of local government is a scary thing,” he said.

“The question would be asked if they’re not involved in that planning process, why should they be councillors? Why have councillors?

“Maybe that’s the way they want to run councils into the future, maybe that’s the grand plan – maybe it’s a way of getting around council amalgamations.”

However, he said removing the responsibility would take pressure off elected representatives.  

“There’s enormous pressure on councillors – they don’t do the easy ones, they only get hung up on the hard ones,” he said.

Cr Davis said the Western Joint Regional Planning Panel had been a success since it was introduced in 2009. 

“They’re really at the top of the game, and that’s not criticising councillors or staff because they’ve got more money at their disposal to operate,” he said.

He said the role of a councillor had become increasingly similar to a board member in the past 20 years and introducing panels would force it further in that direction.

“You would have to have a re-look at the role of a councillor and whether it’s good or bad, that would have to be looked at in a bigger decision process,” he said.