City of Greater Geraldton executive Ryan Hall appointed to Western Australian Planning Commission board

A refreshed Western Australian Planning Commission has been appointed with six new members including City of Greater Geraldton executive Ryan Hall named in the revised board. Laws passed by Parliament late last year clarified the role of the WAPC as an expert advisor and independent decision-making body and changed the membership to create a more strategically focused board. Mr Hall, the city’s director of development services, will begin work with the commission from July 1, when the reformed board commences after a raft of operational changes came from a review in 2022. The WAPC has Statewide responsibility for urban, rural and regional land use planning and land development. Planning Minister John Carey said: “A more strategically focused WAPC was a key theme in feedback from our review process and a smaller board will provide the agility, skills and expertise.” The board was reduced from 16 members to a maximum of nine to help streamline the process of decision-making across the State’s planning framework. The six new members will join commission chairman David Caddy and existing members Helen Brooks and Jane Barrett. The commission will be overseen, observed and advised by the director-generals of various government agencies rather than voting members to ensure informed decision-making. The first meeting is set to be held next month.