What is a preferred infrastructure report (PIR)?
The proponent is required to prepare a preferred infrastructure report (PIR) if the Planning Secretary requests changes to a State significant infrastructure (SSI) application to minimise its environmental impact or to deal with any other issue raised during the assessment of the application.
What is the difference between a PIR and an amendment report?
A PIR may contain similar information to an amendment report, the difference being:
- an amendment report details changes initiated by the proponent
- a PIR is prepared in response to changes requested by the Planning Secretary.
Preparing a PIR
When preparing a PIR, the proponent must have regard to the State Significant Infrastructure Guidelines - Preparing a Preferred Infrastructure Report (Appendix E).
What happens after the PIR has been submitted?
As soon as it is received, the department will publish the PIR on the NSW planning portal.
If significant changes are proposed to the nature of the SSI, the department may place the PIR on public exhibition. The exhibition allows the community to have their say on the proposed changes to the project.
In most cases, the PIR is not exhibited as the changes documented in a PIR are typically made to reduce the environmental impact of the SSI.
If the PIR is exhibited, the department will publish all submissions online and ask the applicant to prepare a submissions report.