Inquiry committee chairman Reverend Fred Nile said it was important that the community had confidence in the decision-making processes pursued by public officials and government departments.

Public hearings and a public forum on the planning decisions will be held in Newcastle on November 7 and 21.

Community members can also make submissions online.

Mr Nile said the committee had identified a number of specific projects they wanted to explore, including the decision to terminate the Newcastle rail line at Wickham, the proposal to construct light rail, the Newcastle Urban Renewal Strategy, the State Environmental Planning Policy, the Whitebridge development plan and the Newcastle East End Development.

Greens by-election candidate for Newcastle and Newcastle councillor Michael Osborne called for all projects and decisions under investigation to be put on hold until the inquiry reports have been handed down.

He said the recent Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearings had placed a cloud over the projects.

He said the ICAC only looked at the start of the process; the committee needed to look how the decisions were made and whether they were in the best interests of the community.

However, the state government said it still plans to truncate heavy rail at Wickham station on Boxing Day, despite the inquiry.

■ To make a submission on Newcastle's planning decisions go to parliament.nsw.gov.au/newcastleplanning. Submissions close Friday, October 24.