Expressions of interest are now being sought from members of the community and professionals interested in sitting on Urban Design Panels in both Queenstown (Wakatipu) and Wanaka, Queenstown Lakes District Council senior policy analyst, Gemma Davis said.

"If you are an interested member of the community, a qualified urban designer, architect, landscape architect, planner, heritage advisor, developer, or you may know of someone who would be suitable, then we want to hear from you," Ms Davis said.

The panels were designed to provide independent and professional urban design advice and evaluation on key developments, which included council capital or policy projects, and private development proposals.

The panels don't have the ability to make statutory decisions but simply act in an advisory role. "This means that panels review applications and provide the applicant and relevant council staff with a report incorporating their recommendations" Ms Davis said.

The Urban Design Panels also played a part in the resource consent process.

"If a consent application has been lodged for the proposal, the report from the panels is provided to the processing planner and is considered when they make their recommendations.  In this context, the panel"s report carries similar weight as an engineering report or technical assessment" she said.

Potential candidates would be assessed based on their level of expertise in urban design and development in their local setting.

"We would also like to emphasise that professional nominees don't necessarily have to reside in the area that their chosen panel would be dealing with", Ms Davis said.

Successful applicants would form part of a pool of panel members who would be called upon for urban design review meetings as required.

Confidential expressions of interest could be made in writing and sent to QLDC administration officer, Jessica Dow, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown, and should be received by Wednesday October 25, 2006.

The revised terms of reference could be downloaded from the QLDC website - www.qldc.govt.nz

ENDS

For further information please contact Gemma Davis on 03 441 0499.

By: Sarah