Efficiency in Planning Process

Alongside other reforms, the WAPC and local governments will be required to review and report on the effectiveness of all planning instruments at least every 10 years.

We understand that in the Perth and Peel regions, 38 local planning schemes are in operation with gazettal dates ranging in age from September 2023 (Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale LPS 3) to June 1989 (Shire of Murray LPS 4).

We hope this will mean 20^th century planning schemes (of which six are still in effect) will make way for contemporary planning frameworks.  A concern though is the impending volume of planning instruments that will be required to be reviewed, and the resourcing of DPLH and local governments alike to undertake these reviews and reports (plus any amendments or new planning instruments as a result of those reports and recommendations).

Reforms to Regional Strategic Planning

The reforms introduce a new function of the WAPC to prepare and maintain regional planning scheme strategies, which under the current act simply requires review and recommendation on strategic planning to guide regional planning schemes.

As a number of regions do not have region planning schemes, the reforms provide greater opportunity for regional strategies to be prepared and updated even in the absence of a region scheme.  There are a number of regional planning strategies already formed and published, including but not limited to sub-regional strategies for Perth and Peel, Bunbury-Geographe, Guilderton to Kalbarri, and the Leeuwin Naturaliste Region.

TBB looks forward to the strengthened role of the WAPC to oversee integrated and sustainable development in the State, particularly through reviewing and maintaining the regional planning strategies and the regional planning and infrastructure frameworks outside of the metropolitan area.