The State Government is continuing to deliver major planning reforms in line with the Action Plan. Current priority reforms and other reform projects are outlined below. Work continues on a number of initiatives in line with the Action Plan and additional reform initiatives identified through ongoing consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Current Priorities
The Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2023 (Bill) facilitates the following priority planning reforms:
- Creating a permanent assessment pathway for significant development proposals and finalising the changes to the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) system
- Review of the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC)’s structure and operation
- The role of local government in the decision making process on single houses
More information about the Bill can be found on the Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2023 and Associated Regulations webpage.
Current Initiatives
| Project Description | Potential Implementation Measures | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Creating the new State Referral Coordination Unit, and associated processes | Operational reform | More information |
| Exercise of discretion on development applications assessed and determined under Local Planning Schemes | Future changes to the Planning & Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 New guidance | More information |
| Reviewing and modernising land use terms and zone/reserve objectives | Future changes to the Planning & Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. New associated guidance | More information |
| Standardising land use permissibility and developing a more consistent approach to development requirements in certain zones | Future changes to the Planning & Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. New associated guidance | More information |
| Finalising the Interim Car Parking Guidelines | New guidance | More information |
| Progressing the review of the Residential Design Codes suite | Updated policy | More information |
| Modernising the Metropolitan Region Scheme | Future updates to the Metropolitan Region Scheme | Contact Reform Delivery |
| Subsequential amendments to the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme and Peel Region Scheme to achieve consistency across the three regions | Future updates to the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme Updates to the Peel Region Scheme | Contact Reform Delivery |
| Progress the review of Liveable Neighbourhoods policy (to be referred to as Neighbourhood Design) | Updated policy | More information |
| Continue work on the new online planning system | New system and software | Contact [email protected] |
| Progressing a project about incentives to deliver social housing | Future changes to the Planning & Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 New guidance | Contact Reform Delivery |
| Reviewing and improving guidance on Local Planning Policies | Future changes to the Planning & Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 New guidance | Contact Reform Delivery |
