Hearings

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About Planning Commission hearings

The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment is the person who makes the final decision about all applications for rezoning, planning scheme amendments and exceptional development permits.

If an application for rezoning, planning scheme amendment or exceptional development is lodged with the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, the Planning Commission can hold a hearing on the submissions received on behalf of the Minister.

Applications on exhibition / open for comment

For the list of all planning scheme amendments, rezonings and exceptional development permits that are currently open for comment, go the Development Applications Online website.

When is a hearing needed?

A hearing is needed when:

  • the Planning Commission receives written submissions about an application; and
  • the Chairperson of the Planning Commission is satisfied that a hearing would provide further useful information.

If the Chairperson decides a hearing may not be needed, the Planning Commission will write (send a notice) to the local government council and people who made a written submission about the application.

Those people will be able to respond to the notice.

After considering any responses, the Chairperson will make a final decision about whether to hold a hearing or not.

If a hearing is not needed, the Planning Commission gives a report to the Minister about:

  • all the issues raised in the submissions
  • the reason no hearing was held
  • and any other matters the Planning Commission thinks should be taken into account when the Minister makes a decision about the application.

When a hearing is held

Planning Commission hearings are held when needed.

When held, Planning Commission hearings must be held with a minimum of formality, and in a way that ensures procedural fairness.

Planning Commission hearings are usually open to the public.

The Planning Commission will invite all of the following to the hearing:

  • NT service authorities
  • local government
  • and people who made written submissions about the application.

Before the hearing, a report will be written by the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment. The report will give the Planning Commission details of the application and issues that have been raised in submissions.

These reports will usually be available to download two days before a hearing.

The Chairperson or presiding member will invite the applicant to discuss their application.

People who made a submission about the application, including local government and NT service authorities, will also be invited to speak about their submission.

People speaking at the hearing should address their comments to the Planning Commission, not to the applicant or other people at the hearing.

Video or audio recording of hearing proceedings are generally not allowed.

The Planning Commission and Department of Lands, Planning and Environment staff will attend the hearing and may take notes that will  help the Planning Commission write the report to the Minister after the hearing.

The Planning Commission gives a report to the Minister about all the issues raised at the hearing and in the submissions, and any other matters that the Planning Commission thinks should be taken into account when the Minister makes a decision about the application.

The Planning Commission does not make any decisions on planning scheme amendments, rezoning or exceptional development permit applications.

Hearing dates and agendas

Hearings are held when needed. Reports to the Planning Commission on submissions received are usually available on this page two days before a hearing.

Darwin - Thursday 1 May 2025, 9.30am

Item 1 - Exceptional Development Permit PA2024/0324 - Lot 4317 Town of Sanderson (191 Leanyer Drive, Leanyer)

Transport Terminal

  • The report to the Planning Commission will be available here 2 days before the hearing.

Details are provided below for hearings conducted within the past 6 months, or longer where the proposal subject to the hearing remains undetermined.

Contact Planning Commission Secretariat if you require details of older hearings.

Alice Springs - Monday 24 March 2025, 11.00am

Red Mulga Event Centre, Alice Springs Desert Park, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs

Item 1 - Planning Scheme Amendment PA2024/0201 - Lot 7602 Town of Alice Springs (12 Gnoilya St, The Gap)

Rezone from TC (Tourist Commercial) to CP (Community Purpose)

Darwin - Monday 24 February 2025, 10.00am

  • Video conference (contact NTPC Secretariat for details); and
  • Everest Room, Level 2 Energy House, 18 Cavenagh St, Darwin

Item 1 - Planning Scheme Amendment PA2024/0241 - Lot 2959 Town of Darwin (93 Ross Smith Avenue Fannie Bay)

Rezone from LR (Low Density Residential) to LMR (Low-Medium Density Residential)

Alice Springs - Tuesday 26 November 2024, 12.30pm

Red Mulga Event Centre, Alice Springs Desert Park, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs

Item 1 - POSTPONED

Item 2 - Exceptional Development Permit PA2024/0081 - Lot 7923 Todd Street, Town of Alice Springs

144 multiple dwellings in  4 x 6 storey and 1 x 5 storey buildings, and office in a single storey building.

Darwin - Tuesday 24 September 2024, 11.00am

Yellow Room, Level 4 Energy House
18 Cavenagh Street , Darwin

Item 1 - Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment PA2024/0100

Include the Humpty Doo Rural Activity Centre Area Plan into the NT Planning Scheme (2020).

Darwin - Monday 4 December 2023 at 11.30am

Energy House , 18 - 20 Cavenagh Street Darwin
Yellow Room, Level 4
(Video or teleconference facilities are available – please contact the Planning Commission on 8924 7540 or by email ntpc@nt.gov.au for details)

Item 1 - Variation to Exceptional Development Permit Application PA2019/0348 - Section 3181 (398) Mermaid Circuit Dundee Beach Hundred of Glyde
Application to vary condition 4 of EDP20/0015. The variation application includes changes to the carparking layout, a sea container addition, a storage container with a reduced side boundary setback and an additional accommodation room (wheelchair accessible).

Consolidated documents PDF (4.4 MB) (includes Agenda listing, Report to the Planning Commission, Attachments A and B in a single file)

Alice Springs - Monday 22 February 2021

DoubleTree by Hilton, Barrett Drive Alice Springs

Item 1 - Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment PA2020/0154
The proposed Planning Scheme Amendment seeks to rezone Lot 6774 (8) Albrecht Drive, Larapinta from Zone PS (Public Open Space) to Zone OR (Organised Recreation).

Reports to the Minister

The below reports from the NT Planning Commission to the Minister after hearing are made available at the request of the Minister.

Hearing Date Proposal Type Parcel DetailsProposal Report Date Document LinkComments
11/12/2023 EDP NT Portion 3164 (50) Lansdowne Rd, Lansdowne NT Rooming Accommodation (Workers Village) and ancillary amenities including kitchen/dining and indoor/outdoor recreational areas for up to 256 people, primarily to facilitate ongoing construction activities at RAAF Base Tindal 14/12/2023 The Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics  decided to release the NT Planning Commission's Report in relation to PA2023/0345 on 26 March 2024.
31/7/2018 EDP Lot 6774 (8) Albrecht Drive Larapinta, Town of Alice Springs Proposed exceptional development permit for the purpose of installation of 4 x 34.5m high lighting towers (ancillary to leisure and recreation use) 13/9/2018 The Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics  decided to release the NT Planning Commission's Report in relation to PA2018/0120 on 10 April 2019.
31/1/2019 PSA Section 67 (125) Mcfarland Road, Pinelands, Hundred of Bagot Proposal to rezone from Zone GI (General Industry) to Zones CP (Community Purpose) and FD (Future Development) to facilitate a rehabilitation precinct including a new Youth Justice Centre. 14/2/2019 The Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics  decided to release the NT Planning Commission's Report in relation to PA2018/0457 on 13 March 2019.