The WA Planning Manual (manual) consolidates individual documents guiding the preparation, assessment and use of planning instruments, and it includes the manner and form templates approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) for the preparation of these instruments.
The focus is mainly on instruments that constitute the local planning framework (Chapter 2) as various stakeholders are involved in their preparation. The manual also provides guidance on other planning processes or matters (Chapter 3) and sets out expectations for best practice.
The manual aligns with the State Government's Planning Reform agenda outlined in the Action Plan for Planning Reform (Action Plan) released in 2019, and responded to the following goals and initiatives of the Action Plan:
| Goal | Initiative | Desired outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Planning is easier to understand and navigate | B5: Clear and concise guidance is readily available | Clear and concise up-to-date guidance assists local governments and other users to understand the system |
Note: Existing guidance documents forming part of the manual but not currently identified as such in their title, will be reviewed and renamed accordingly in due course.
Hyperlinks to documents that are not yet developed or are in draft, will remain inactive.
Chapter 1 - Instruments in the WA Planning System
The WA planning system comprises planning legislation, regulations and planning instruments in the State and local planning framework.
These instruments guide decision making on planning matters to facilitate appropriate land use and development outcomes. There are two types of decisions that are made in planning: (a) decisions for preparing and amending the instruments that make up the planning framework; and (b) decisions on planning applications, like subdivision and development of the land.
Planning instruments can be statutory planning schemes, non-statutory plans and policy guidance, and strategic plans and apply at the State level (Chapter 1.1), Regional or sub-regional level (Chapter 1.2) or local level (Chapter 1.3).
The Planning and Development Act 2005 and a suite of associated regulations provide the head of power for the preparation of planning instruments.