98AIndependence of community members

98A Independence of community members (1) A community member must make the decision on a development application independently of any direction or decision from the local government council. (2) When making the decision under subsection (1), the community member may take into account the opinion of a local government council in relation to a development application made by an applicant other than the local government council. (3) For section 97, if a community member takes into account the opinion of the local government council under subsection (2): (a) the Development Consent Authority is taken not to have contravened the rules of natural justice by that reason only; and (b) the community member is taken not to have an interest or relationship for the purposes of section 97 by that reason only; and (c) the community member is taken not to have contravened the rules of natural justice by that reason only.