Western Australian Planning Minister John Day will establish 15 Development Assessment Panels across local government areas across the state from July 1 this year.

The panels will comprise five members and determine applications of more than $15 million in the City of Perth and more than $7 million elsewhere.

Applicants will also have the option to select a panel determination for applications of between $10 million and $15 million in the City of Perth and between $3 million and $7 million across the rest of the state.

Announcing the plan last Friday, Mr Day said the panels would "enhance planning expertise in decision making by improving the balance between technical advice and local knowledge."

"These panels will be independent decision-making bodies comprised of independent technical experts and elected local government representatives," Mr Day said.

The Development Assessment Panels will have the same discretion regarding decision making as local governments and the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).

The five member panels will include the presiding member (a specialist member); two specialist members (one of whom is the deputy presiding member) and two local government representatives (elected members nominated by the relevant local government).

Expressions of interest for specialist member positions are open until Friday, March 4.

More information is available from the PlanningWA website