Western Australia Minister for Planning John Day

New Guidelines To Enhance Planning Efficiency

Victor P Taffa

• State-wide guidelines will ensure consistent approach to planning
• Residential, commercial and recreational land use planning improved
• Changes to benefit community and industry

Planning Minister John Day today released open for public comment new draft guidelines to address structure planning of land use and urban development issues.

Mr. Day said the new guidelines would ensure a consistent approach to structure planning for residential, commercial and recreational land uses across the State.

“These new guidelines will enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system to the benefit of both the community and industry.” Mr. Day said.

“The State Government, the development industry and planning profession have recognised inconsistencies within the existing use and implementation of structure plans and these proposals will help plan more efficiently for cohesive communities.”

The State Government had been working cross-agency to put these new plans together so as to ensure information provided within structure plans is appropriate to the scale and level of the plan and provide clarity as to the type of information that is generally not to be included in structure plans.

“The guidelines will establish consistency in the format and content of structure plans and provide more clarity and consistency on statutory and non-statutory elements of structure plans.” the Minster said.

“Applicants, local government and the Western Australian Planning Commission will be provided with better guidance on the preparation of structure plans and assistance will be given to decision-making authorities in assessing whether a structure plan has provided the required information.”

Fact File

• Submissions are invited by through the Department of Planning via structureplanguidelines@planning.wa.gov.au or Structure Plan Preparation Guidelines, Department of Planning, Locked Bag 2506, Perth WA 6001
• The closing date for submission is 5pm, November 16