After section 33 of the Principal Act , the following sections are inserted in Division 2:

33A.     Additional information

(1)  A planning authority may, within the period of 28 days from the day on which it receives from a person a request under section 33(1) , by notice in writing served on the person, require the person to provide it with additional information before it considers the application.

(2)  If the planning authority requires a person to provide it with additional information under subsection (1) , the period referred to in section 33(3) or (3AA) , whichever is applicable, does not run while the requirement has not been, in the opinion of the planning authority, satisfied.

33B.     Review of requirement for additional information

(1)  Where a planning authority requires additional information under section 33A(1) from a person, the person may, within 14 days of receiving notice of that requirement, request the Commission to review the process by which the planning authority reached its decision to make the requirement.

(2)  Where the Commission has been requested under subsection (1) to review the process by which the planning authority reached its decision, the Commission may require the planning authority to provide it with any relevant material that is in the possession of the planning authority before the day on which the requirement is made.

(3)  A planning authority must provide the relevant material required by the Commission under subsection (2) within 7 days of receiving notice of the requirement under that subsection.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.

(4)  The Commission, not later than 28 days after receiving the request under subsection (1) or such longer period as the Minister may allow, must –

(a) direct the planning authority to reconsider the planning authority's decision to require the information under section 33A(1) ; or

(b) determine that the requirement under section 33A(1) was appropriate.

(5)  If the Commission requires a planning authority to provide it with relevant material under subsection (2) , the period referred to in subsection (4) does not run while the requirement has not been, in the opinion of the Commission, satisfied.

(6)  The Commission, within 7 days of making a direction or determination under subsection (4) in relation to a request under subsection (1) , must notify the planning authority and the person who made the request.