The JRPP’s three government appointees were in Nowra of Friday to meet Shoalhaven City Council officers, with the controversial tip proposal at the top of the agenda.

Following the discussions, Ms Allan said she had told council’s officers not to rush through the process of preparing reports and recommendations on the tip proposal.

“We’ve said to the council officers, ‘We expect you to do this well, we expect you to do this thoroughly, we don’t want you to be rushed’,” Ms Allan said.

She had heard of community calls for more time to respond to the detailed and highly technical tip proposal, which had been developed over more than three years.

“It sounds like those calls have been justified,” Ms Allan said.

She added there was a case to be made for the community consultation period to be extended beyond than additional three weeks already offered by council.

“I’m very committed to community consultation,” Ms Allan said.

She stressed community members concerned about the tip proposal would be able to access panel members and have their say before the decision was made.

While the Southern Councils Group said the proposed non-putrescible tip would extend the lives of council putrescible waste tips throughout the region, and prevent them being filled with inert non-putrescible waste, “The Joint Regional Planning Panel is not an apologist for any tip proposal,” Ms Allan said.

She explained a tip had to be assessed on a range of criteria including its impacts on the environment and community.

The Joint Regional Planning Panels have been cloaked in controversy since the State Government established them earlier this year.

Shoalhaven City Council has refused to nominate representatives in protest at the way planning powers were being taken away from councils.

Ms Allan refused to be drawn on the reasons why the planning panels were necessary, but said she expected council’s view to change as the panel proved its credentials.