Administration of Development Assessment Panels
Under the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011, DAPs must be administered by an officer(s) of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, and the CEO of the Department must establish a DAP website.
Development Assessment Panels are independent decision making bodies and do not form part of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage or the Western Australian Planning Commission. For administrative efficiency, the DAP website is hyperlinked from the Department of Planning and Western Australian Planning Commission section of the wa.gov.au website.
DAP Reforms
Final changes to the DAP system were recently announced. This includes:
- Reducing the number of panels from 5 to 3.
- Appointing fix-term, full-time DAP members. Note, there will still be two local government members on each panel and a total of 5 members.
- Remove mandatory threshold thresholds and making the system opt-in over $2million.
- Allowing any community housing proponents to opt-in to the pathway.
- RARs only to be submitted by the administration of the local government, not Council.
- The Special Matters DAP will not be proceeded with. Instead, a permanent significant development pathway will be created.
You can read more about these reforms on the Development Assessment Panel Reforms and Significant Development Pathway page.
Contact details and feedback
Postal address:
Development Assessment Panels Secretariat
Locked Bag 2506
PERTH WA 6001
Contact email: daps@dplh.wa.gov.au
Contact phone: (08) 6551 9919
Should you wish to provide feedback or lodge a complaint on the DAPs process, please contact us by email.
DAPs members
Show moreIn July 2022, Presiding Members, Deputy Presiding Members and Specialist Members were appointed for each of the five panels, for a term expiring on 1 January 2024.
Specialist members
DAP specialist members 2022-2024 (PDF 126 kb)
Specialist members are appointed from a list of appropriately qualified persons, based on the requirements outlined in the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) regulations. Specialist members may sit on more than one DAP. Specialist members must have experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Planning
- Architecture
- Urban design
- Engineering
- Landscape design
- Environment
- Law
- Property development and management.
Presiding members
Presiding members are specialist members who hold planning qualifications who preside at Development Assessment Panel (DAP) meetings for the DAP in which they are appointed. In addition to the responsibilities of being a specialist member, presiding members must also chair meetings, determine minor amendments to DAP-determined applications, confirm DAP meeting minutes, and represent the DAP as the respondent in the event of an appeal.
Deputy presiding members
Deputy presiding members are specialist members who hold planning qualifications who will act in the place of the presiding member when he or she is unable to act by reason of illness, absence or other cause.
Local members
DAP local government members 2022-2024 (PDF 134 kb)
Local representation is a vital component of the Development Assessment Panel (DAP). Local members are members of a local government council who are nominated by that local government to sit on a DAP. The relevant local government will be responsible for nominating four local government representative members from the local government's pool of elected members (councillors). Two councillors will be local members, and two deputy local members to be called on if an issue of quorum arises. The Minister will appoint the local government representatives in accordance with the local government's nomination.
Should the local government fail to nominate four representatives, the Minister has the power to appoint two alternative community representatives to ensure local representation is always present on a panel. The regulations require that these alternate representatives are residents of the local area and have relevant knowledge or experience that, in the opinion of the Minister, will enable them to represent the interests of their local community.
Alternate members
There will be alternate (deputy) members for local members and specialist members. Alternate (deputy) members will be used when an issue of quorum arises or when a Development Assessment Panel (DAP) member is unable to act by reason of illness, absence or other cause. Deputy local members cannot sit in the place of specialist members, just as deputy specialist members cannot sit in the place of local members.
Constitution of Development Assessment Panels
Each Development Assessment Panel (DAP) comprises five members; three specialist members, one of which is the presiding member, and two local members, nominated by the local government.
At a meeting of a DAP, a quorum is constituted by three members of the DAP, including the Presiding Member.
Current DAPs boundaries
Show moreCity of Perth
Areas covered
Map of City of Perth LDAP (PDF 412 kb)
Metro Inner-North JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Metro Inner North JDAP (PDF 482 kb)
Metro Inner-North Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Bassendean, Bayswater, Cambridge, Claremont, Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Nedlands, Peppermint Grove, Stirling, Subiaco and Vincent.
Metro Inner-South JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Metro Inner South JDAP (PDF 507 kb)
Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Belmont, Canning, East Fremantle, Fremantle, Melville, South Perth and Victoria Park.
Metro Outer JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Metro Outer JDAP (PDF 416 kb)
Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Armadale, Cockburn, Gosnells, Joondalup, Kalamunda, Kwinana, Mandurah, Mundaring, Murray, Rockingham, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Swan and Wanneroo.
Regional JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Regional JDAP (PDF 1 MB)
The Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Albany, Ashburton, Augusta-Margaret River, Beverley, Boddington, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Brookton, Broome, Broomehill-Tambellup, Bruce Rock, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Carnamah, Carnarvon, Chapman Valley, Chittering, Collie, Coolgardie, Coorow, Corrigin, Cranbrook, Cuballing, Cue, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Dardanup, Denmark, Derby-West Kimberley, Donnybrook-Balingup, Dowerin, Dumbleyung, Dundas, East Pilbara, Esperance, Exmouth, Gingin, Gnowangerup, Goomalling, Greater Geraldton, Halls Creek, Harvey, Irwin, Jerramungup, Kalgoorlie- Boulder, Karratha, Katanning, Kellerberrin, Kent, Kojonup, Kondinin, Koorda, Kulin, Lake Grace, Laverton, Leonora, Manjimup, Meekatharra, Menzies, Merredin, Mingenew, Moora, Morawa, Mount Magnet, Mount Marshall, Mukinbudin, Murchison, Nannup, Narembeen, Narrogin, Ngaanyatjarraku, Northam, Northampton, Nungarin, Perenjori, Pingelly, Plantagenet, Port Hedland, Quairading, Ravensthorpe, Sandstone, Shark Bay, Tammin, Three Springs, Toodyay, Trayning, Upper Gascoyne, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, Waroona, West Arthur, Westonia, Wickepin, Williams, Wiluna, Wongan-Ballidu, Woodanilling, Wyalkatchem, Wyndham-East Kimberley, Yalgoo, Yilgarn and York.
Previous DAPs boundaries
Show moreMetropolitan DAPs
Metro Central
Areas covered
Map of Metro Central JDAP (PDF 695 kb)
The Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) comprises the following local government areas:
Bassendean, Bayswater, Belmont, Canning, Melville, South Perth and Victoria Park.
Metro East
Areas covered
Map of Metro East JDAP (PDF 427 kb)
The Metro East Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) comprises the following local government areas:
Armadale, Gosnells, Kalamunda, Mundaring, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Swan.
Metro North-West
Areas covered
Map of Metro North West JDAP (PDF 471 kb)
The Metro North-West Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Joondalup, Stirling and Wanneroo.
Metro South-West
Areas covered
Map of Metro South West JDAP (PDF 492 kb)
The Metro South-West Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Cockburn, East Fremantle, Fremantle, Mandurah, Murray, Rockingham and Kwinana.
Metro West
Areas covered
Map of Metro West JDAP (PDF 557 kb)
The Metropolitan West Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Cambridge, Claremont, Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Nedlands, Peppermint Grove, Subiaco and Vincent.
Regional DAPs
Kimberley/Pilbara/Gascoyne JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Kimberley Pilbara Gascoyne JDAP (PDF 1 MB)
The Kimberley/Pilbara/Gascoyne Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Ashburton, Broome, Carnarvon, Derby-West Kimberley, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Halls Creek, Karratha, Port Hedland, Shark Bay, Upper Gascoyne and Wyndham-East Kimberley.
Mid-West/Wheatbelt JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Mid-West Wheatbelt JDAP (PDF 1 MB)
The Mid-West/Wheatbelt Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) 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, 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.
Southern JDAP
Areas covered
Map of Southern JDAP (PDF 851 kb)
The Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) covers the following local government areas:
Albany, Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Broomehill-Tambellup, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Collie, Cranbrook, Dardanup, Denmark, Donnybrook-Balingup, Gnowangerup, Harvey, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kent, Kojonup, Manjimup, Nannup, Plantagenet and Woodanilling.
DAPs during the COVID-19 situation
Show moreThe Development Assessment Panel (DAP) system continues to operate and accept development applications.
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation closely and following Government advice to ensure the safety of our stakeholders.
Applicants and the public will be kept informed of any updates. If you have a specific question, please contact the DAP Secretariat.
The most up to date information on COVID-19 and advice for the community and businesses in Western Australia can be found at https://www.wa.gov.au/covid19.
Changes to the LPS Regulations
Show moreAmendments to the LPS Regulations and Deemed Provisions have been implemented as of 15 February 2021.
View the Development Assessment Explanatory Guidelines to see how these may affect a DAP application.
Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) have operated in Western Australia since 2011 and are intended to enhance planning expertise in decision making by improving the balance between technical advice and local knowledge.
There are five panels covering the State. The current structure is a transitional arrangement to a future model of no more than three panels, as outlined in the Action Plan for Planning Reform.
Each panel consists of five members, comprising three specialist members and two local government councillors. Members are appointed by the Minister for Planning and a pool of additional members are available to substitute if required. View the DAPs membership page for more information.
The role of panels are to determine development applications of a certain type and value threshold through consistent, accountable, and professional decision-making.
Operating under Development Assessment Panel Regulations, each panel determines development applications as if it were the responsible planning authority, against the relevant local or region planning scheme.
DAP Regulations state that applications considered by a panel cannot be determined by local government or the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).
There are two different types of DAPs:
Local Development Assessment Panels (LDAPs)
An LDAP only has one local government within its boundary area. An LDAP is established to service a single local government, where it is deemed to be a high-growth local government with enough development to support its own panel. There is currently only one LDAP, for the City of Perth.
Joint Development Assessment Panels (JDAPs)
JDAPs service two or more local governments. There are currently four JDAPs in Western Australia.
Changes to Development Assessment Panel Configuration and Membership (April 2020)
Show moreA number of changes were introduced to Western Australia’s DAP system in April 2020 to deliver more robust processes and promote greater consistency and transparency in decision making. A streamlined five-panel model was introduced as a transitional measure to an ultimate configuration of no more than three panels for the State.
A reduced number of specialist members were also permanently appointed, with another group appointed to a member pool providing a substitute reserve if required.
Further legislative amendments will be progressed to reduce the configuration to a maximum of three panels.
