Development Assessment Panels

A Development Assessment Panel (DAP) is an independent decision-making body comprised of technical experts and elected local government representatives. Joint Development Assessment Panels (JDAPs) are established to service two or more local governments.

Under the DAP regulations, each DAP will determine certain development applications as if they were the responsible authority. For example, if a DAP application is submitted to the Shire of Northam, the application will be assessed against the Shire’s Local Planning Scheme and relevant Local Planning Policies as per any other application submitted to a local government.

The DAP regulations state that DAP applications cannot be determined by local government or the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).

The Shire of Northam is a part of the Mid-West/Wheatbelt Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP), which covers the following local government areas: Beverley; Boddington; Brookton; Bruce Rock; Carnamah; Chapman Valley; Chittering; Coolgardie; Coorow; Corrigin; Cuballing; Cue; Cunderdin; Dalwallinu; Dandaragan; Dowerin; Dumbleyung; Dundas; Esperance; Greater Geraldton; Gingin; Goomalling; Irwin; Kalgoorlie- Boulder; Kellerberrin; Kondinin; Koorda; Kulin; Lake Grace; Laverton; Leonora; Meekatharra; Menzies; Merredin; Mingenew; Moora; Morawa; Mount Magnet; Mount Marshall; Mukinbudin; Mullewa; Murchison; Narembeen; Narrogin; Ngaanyatjarraku; Northam; Northampton; Nungarin; Perenjori; Pingelly; Quairading; Ravensthorpe; Sandstone; Tammin; Three Springs; Toodyay; Trayning; Victoria Plains; Wagin; Wandering; Waroona; West Arthur; Westonia; Wickepin; Williams; Wiluna; Wongan-Ballidu; Wyalkatchem; Yalgoo; Yilgarn; and York.

DAP Meetings

Upcoming Mid-West/Wheatbelt JDAP meetings

Any upcoming meetings are listed on the JDAP website.  Applicants and submitters are notified of the meetings.

Meetings, agendas and minutes

The agendas and finalised minutes of the Mid-West/Wheatbelt Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) are available on the JDAP website.

The Local Government is required to publish a copy of the signed minutes on its website in accordance with regulation 44(7) of the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011.

For enquiries, please contact DAP Secretariat on 6551 9919 or via email [email protected]

What happens at a DAP meeting?

• The meeting will commence once a quorum is achieved and the minute taker is in attendance.
• Formalities such as the noting of the minutes, absences, apologies and disclosures of interest are completed.
• The presiding member then invites submitters' presentations to be made.
• The DAP members then consider and discuss the responsible authority’s reports.
• DAPs members determine the applications by consensus or by majority vote.
• The presiding member reports to the panel on any applications to amend/cancel DAP approval and any SAT reviews.
• Any general business is discussed before the meeting is closed.

Can I attend a DAP meeting?

DAP meetings are open to the public.

How can I make a presentation at a DAP meeting?

When a DAP application is advertised under the local planning scheme and/or region schemes, submissions may be sent to local government. Submitters may also wish to present at the DAP meeting.

Any submitter wishing to address the DAP meeting is to send a DAP presentation request form to the DAP secretariat at the Department of Planning via email to [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. The presentation request form is to be accompanied by a written document setting out the name of the person or representative of the group, the DAP application it relates to and the substance of the submission to the person or group proposes to make. 

Download the DAP presentation request form from the DAP website here

The number of submissions that may be received at the meeting is at the discretion of the Presiding Member. The Presiding Member will approve or refuse the request and decide the order in which presentations may be made.

Please note presentations are limited to a maximum of five minutes.

DAP Applications

Current DAP applications open for public comment

There are currently no DAP applications open for comment.

Recent DAP applications determined by the Mid-West/Wheatbelt JDAP in the Shire of Northam:

Meeting Date:	15 June 2017
Meeting Number:	MWWJDAP/18 Meeting
Property Location:	Lot 6 No.131 Northam-York Road, Muluckine
Application Details:	Proposed Power Generation
Applicant:	Carnegie Clean Energy Limited
Owner:	DK West Investments Pty Ltd
DoP File No:	DAP/17/01197
Meeting Date:	17 October 2016
Meeting Number:	MWWJDAP/11
Property Location:	Lot 11 (55) East Street, Northam and Lot 402 (77) East Street, Northam WA 6401
Application Details:	Proposed Place of Worship
Applicant:	Rowe Group – Mr Jeremy Hofland
Owner:	Mr Andrew Draffin, Mr Andrew Dowell, Mr Paul Sharpe, Mr James Bagshaw, and Mr Jeremy Davies
DoP File No:	DAP/16/01093
Meeting Date:	19 October 2015
Meeting Number:	MWWJDAP/4
Property Location:	Lot 501 No. 10 Beamish Avenue, Northam
Application Details:	Proposed Shopping Centre & Convenience Store
Applicant:	Northam Project Pty Ltd
Owner:	Medical Procedures Research Pty Ltd
DoP File No:	DAP/15/00856

Does my application need to be determined by a DAP?

Your application for development is a DAP application if it falls into one of the following two categories:

• Mandatory DAP applications – where the value of the development is $10 million or more and not considered an ‘excluded development application’.
• Opt-in DAP applications – the applicant has chosen to have their application determined by a DAP. Opt-in DAP applications are for those applications where the value is $2 million to $10 million and are not considered an ‘excluded development application’.

The following will not be determined by a DAP:

• Construction of –

1. a single house and any associated carport, patio, outbuilding and incidental development
2. less than ten grouped dwellings and any associated carport, patio, outbuilding and incidental development
3. less than ten multiple dwellings and any associated carport, patio, outbuilding and incidental development.

• Development in an improvement scheme area.
• Development by a local government or the WAPC.
• Development in a district for which –

1. a DAP is not established at the time the application is made or
2. a DAP has been established for less than sixty days at the time the application is made.

The DAP process

DAP applications must be assessed following the standard local government’s process as per the local planning scheme. This includes:

• public advertising if required
• consultation with internal departments and external referral agencies.

The Shire of Northam must then prepare a Responsible Authority Report which includes a recommendation to the JDAP. Applications are determined by the Mid-West/Wheatbelt JDAP at a special meeting of its members.

Download the DAP application process flowchart.

Lodging a DAP application

When lodging an application the applicant must:

• complete the new DAP form and pay the required fee PLUS
• submit and pay any existing development application forms and fees as required under the local or region planning scheme.

DAP application forms and fee schedules are available on the DAP website here 

All new applications should comprise the following documents:

• DAP Application Form 1
• with DAP Application Form 1, one hard copy and one electronic copy of appropriately scaled site plans, development plans, development elevations and accompanying technical reports in support
• local government application for development approval form
• with the local government application form, one copy of appropriately scaled site plans, development plans, development elevations and accompanying supporting technical reports
• payment of the DAP application fee
• payment of local government development approval application fee.

Further Information

For more information about Development Assessment Panels, visit the DAPs section on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website.

To speak to the Shire's planners regarding your development application, please phone (08) 9622 6100.