An independent design advisory panel has been established to provide expert planning advice for the assessment of the Barangaroo precinct.

The appointment of the panel will assist the Department of Planning and Environment to assess modifications to the Barangaroo concept plan.

The members of the design advisory panel are:

• Mr Peter Poulet (chair) is currently the NSW Government Architect and has significant experience in urban design and architecture;

• Ms Shelley Penn co-authored the original independent review into Barangaroo in 2011. Ms Penn is currently an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Melbourne and Adjunct Professor in Architectural Practice at Monash University. Ms Penn is also the former President of The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) and former Chair of the National Capital Authority in Canberra; and

• Ms Meredith Sussex has extensive experience in planning and urban development matters, particularly in government, and was co-author of the Barangaroo Review in 2011. Ms Sussex is the Non-Executive Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and a Strategic Adviser at the Office of Living Victoria.

The panel will review the modification application and submissions received during the exhibition period.

They will also carry out site inspections and work closely with the community and the City of Sydney.

The panel’s feedback and expert opinions on Barangaroo will be considered by the Department when it assesses the application.

The current modification application will now be assessed by the Department and the independent design advisory panel, before being sent to the Planning Assessment Commission for determination.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes said that, “Barangaroo’s significance and the high level of community interest requires that an appropriate level of scrutiny be applied to its design.”