The Minister for Planning has tabled the Planning and Development Amendment (Metropolitan Region Scheme) Bill 2024 (MRS Bill 2024) on 8 August which aims to deliver a contemporary MRS.
Why is the MRS changing?
The MRS is key in defining the future use of land and providing the legal framework for planning across the Perth metropolitan area. As our communities grow and change, it is important the MRS meets the needs of our community while maintaining its integrity and effectiveness in guiding land use planning in the Perth metropolitan region.
While amendments to scheme maps have been undertaken regularly since 1963, there has been minimal review of the scheme text, resulting in outdated development approval provisions, a lack of clear processes, a dated scheme text structure, and no specified purposes for zones and reserves.
What is changing?
The focus is on modernising the scheme text in line with the more contemporary Peel and Greater Bunbury region schemes, clarifying the ability for the Western Australian Planning Commission to prepare and approve district structure plans, region planning scheme policies and to identify regional infrastructure plan areas.
These initiatives provide the head of power for the preparation of strategically focused plans to coordinate infrastructure and land uses and make positive changes to the development application process. Streamlining and simplifying these processes will make it more efficient and user-friendly for all stakeholders involved.
The MRS Bill 2024 was introduced into Parliament on 8 August 2024 and the key changes are summarised below.
There are no proposed changes to maps or the reservations or zones of individual properties.
Stakeholder engagement
We understand the importance of engaging with our stakeholders throughout this process. Key industry, local government and state agency stakeholders are informed of the key principles behind the changes and are involved every step of the way. The preparation of any policy, district structure plan or identification of any regional infrastructure area plan will include full public consultation as outlined in the amended text.
Training and support
Once the Bill passes and the changes come into effect, the Department will provide comprehensive training and information sessions and support for local governments and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new process. Our goal is to equip them with the knowledge and resources they need to effectively implement and comply with the updated MRS.
Stay informed
We will continue to provide information updates on this webpage as the Bill progresses. An online information session will also be scheduled for late August and a recording of the session will be available.
Please refer to our frequently asked questions (FAQs) or contact the Reform Delivery team on 6551 8002 or email planningreform@dplh.wa.gov.au.
Key Changes
Show moreWhat has changed between the old and new scheme text?
| Current Text | New Text |
| The map and legend. | Minor change to the legend. |
Dated language and terminology.
| Modern contemporary language and terminology, modelled on the Peel and Greater Bunbury Region Schemes. |
| Complex and hard to understand and interpret. | Clearer, easier to read and the provisions will reduce unnecessary red tape. |
| Inconsistent language and provisions across region schemes. | Consistency across the region schemes in terms of language and provisions. |
| No explanation of the nature of the scheme. | Added to differentiate between a local and region planning scheme. A region scheme is focused on matters of state and regional importance. |
| No explanation of the purpose of the scheme. | Added to:
|
| No aims of the scheme. | Added, mainly focused on the provision of sustainable development, whilst having regard for the environment, social, cultural and economic factors. |
| No purposes of reserves. | A brief description and purpose of each reserve has been added. |
| No purposes of zones. | A brief description and purpose of each zone has been added as a region planning scheme does not have a zoning or development table. |
| No provisions for Special Control Areas. | Provisions included. Areas will be included through a future scheme amendment to allow for consultation. |
| No specific provisions for the protection of heritage places. | Protection of Heritage places (built), especially on region scheme reserved land as the local planning scheme provisions do not apply to those areas. |
| Bush Forever provisions. | No changes. |
| Development Control Provisions for the Swan and Canning Rivers Development control areas (Swan River Trust). | No changes. Provisions are retained in the text. |
| No specific MRS region planning scheme policies. | Head of power to prepare and resolve to approve region planning scheme policies that will apply to a specific matter or specific area. |
No head of power to prepare and resolve to approve district structure plans.
| Head of power and provisions to recognise existing district structure plans and ones that are under preparation. |
No regional infrastructure plan areas.
| Head of power to include regional infrastructure plan areas. These will be introduced through the region scheme amendment process to allow for consultation and will involve a mapping change. |
| All development requires approval and the majority of the decision making is delegated to Local Government or State Government agencies (public works excluded). Cl 32 Notice development determined by the Commission. | The key improvement to the scheme is the development approval process. Nothing will require development approval unless there is a notice endorsed by the Commission to state approval is required (clause 28). The requirements for a development approval will generally relate to the protection of the state reservations, state or regional significance or public works. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Show moreWhy is the MRS changing?
- First established in 1963, the current MRS is out of date. Its language and processes can be improved to deliver a more efficient planning system with special focus on housing supply.
- As part of its agenda to improve planning processes the Government determined that the MRS Text be progressed as a new Planning and Development (Metropolitan Region Schemes) Bill 2024 (MRS 2024).
Does the Bill make any mapping changes?
- Other than re-naming the “Parks and Recreation” reserve in the legend, there are no mapping changes.
What type of development will require MRS approval?
- The Western Australia Planning Commission has endorsed a draft notice.
What changes are proposed in the MRS Bill 2024?
- The text will reflect modern and contemporary terminology and will be modelled on the more recent Peel and Bunbury Region Schemes.
- The main changes relate to the development approvals process, the introduction of provisions to prepare region planning scheme policies, prepare and approve district structure plans and provisions for regional infrastructure plans.
- The amended text will also provide clear purposes for reserves and zones.
- While there was no formal consultation process, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage hosted high level briefings on the main principles of the Bill with key stakeholders and industry representatives who in turn kept their members informed.
- View more details in Key Changes.
Who was consulted or involved on the Bill?
- Two stakeholder reference groups were formed in 2022 to provide early feedback on the Region Scheme review project, which included a workshop on the MRS Text, to determine its strengths and weaknesses and general comments. These groups included representatives from local governments, local government associations and industry representatives.
- Regular meetings were also held with key State Government Departments.
Will the exemptions under local planning schemes be included in the MRS Bill 2024?
- Development approval on zoned land will not be required under the MRS unless the WAPC has made a specific resolution that it is required.
- Many exempt developments under local planning schemes, including patios, pergolas, cubbyhouses, swimming pools and home renovations will be a part of, or incidental or ancillary to, a single dwelling house and therefore will not require approval under the MRS Bill 2024.
- The developments exempt from requiring local Planning scheme approval will not require region scheme approval as they will not meet the region scheme threshold unless included in the cl 28 notice.
Does the proposed MRS Bill 2024 interact with the DAPS system?
- The changes introduced by the Bill will not impact the DAP system.
How will the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme (GBRS) and Peel Region Scheme (PRS) be updated to be consistent with the MRS Bill 2024?
- Once the MRS Bill 2024 text is published the WAPC will consider progressing amendments to the GBRS and PRS to ensure consistency.
Why is there no Swan Valley carve out in the current MRS text?
- This is covered by the Swan Valley Planning Act 2020 which commenced operation after the current MRS text was drafted.
