The Panel process commences when a development application is received, pursuant to a Major Development Declaration (under Section 46) or Direction (under section 49) by the Minister. The Panel normally has 60 business days to complete the process. An Issues Paper is prepared by the Panel, following an inspection of the development site and locality. Public submissions are sought on the Issues Paper for a period of four weeks. Officers of the Environmental Impact Assessment Unit, Planning SA, then summarise the submissions received and prepare a Report for the Panel and draft Guidelines. The Panel then meets to determine the level of assessment to which the proposal will be subject, the Guidelines to apply to the preparation of an EIS, PER or DR for the proposal and to assign priority to the issues identified in the Guidelines.

The Panel's role is to scope the level and content of the assessment required for a proposal. Once the level of assessment has been determined and the Guidelines set, the Panel has no further role in the assessment process - it does not assess or make a decision on the merits of the proposal.

When the proponent receives the Guidelines, the proponent will know what necessary research, studies and level of detail are required for the adequate assessment of the proposal. The proponent can then refine the proposal as consideration is given to environmental, economic and social effects. This ensures that all effects are considered through the evolution of the detail of the proposal.

Being an expert body with no assessment role, the Panel's meetings are not open to the public.

The Panel process is summarised in the table below (the overall process is described in the Major Projects Assessment website).

Minister refers development application to Major Developments Panel
Panel prepares Issues Paper for public display and invites written submissions
Panel decides level of assessment and main issues (content of guidelines)
Panel reports to Minister on Panel decisions regarding level of assessment and Guidelines
Minister refers Guidelines to the proponent and releases the Guidelines to the public
EIS	PER	DR