NSW's new planning chief, Mary O'Kane, wants to bring greater transparency to all parts of the development approval process, including potentially helping project opponents in the community.

Professor O'Kane, who began as the chair of the state's new Independent Planning Commission on March 1, also said she would recuse herself from any approval role involving the controversial coal seam gas project planned by Santos for Narrabri in the state's north because of a perceived conflict of interest.

Mary O’Kane, the chair of the new Independent Planning Commission. Credit:Photo: Steven Siewert

The new body - which arguably has more clout after the Berejiklian government removed the review stage of the previous Planning Assessment Commission - will strive to demonstrate its independence from both the Planning Department and project proponents.

"What you’re hoping is you get better, more consistent decisions, where the process is very transparent so it can be interrogated and trusted," Professor O'Kane told the Herald.