New regional planning strategies for the State’s regions

A Regional Planning Strategy is an instrument of the WAPC that sets out high-level, strategic land use planning direction for a particular region.

The Planning and Development Act 2005 provides the WAPC with a broad range of responsibilities, including state-wide regional planning. Regional planning strategies are a key tool in meeting this responsibility and form part of the Western Australian Planning Framework. 

The WAPC’s existing regional planning strategies include Perth and Peel@3.5million and the series of Regional Planning and Infrastructure Frameworks for the remaining eight regions.

The Regional Planning and Infrastructure Frameworks have provided value by guiding planning processes for the regions outside of the Perth and Peel regions. 

However, the economic, social and environmental context of regional Western Australia has shifted since the Regional Planning and Infrastructure Frameworks were prepared over the period 2010-2015. Regional Planning Strategies are an essential element of the State Planning Framework and need to be regularly updated. 

The Western Australian Planning Framework states the purpose of a regional planning strategy is to “provide for the comprehensive planning of regions to guide change and a basis for cooperative action to be taken by State and local government on land use and development”.
It does this by:

• telling the story of the region, which provides a context for land use planning in the region;
• establishing a vision for the region in the future;
• outlining major regional issues that affect land use planning in the region, especially around community, economy, environment and infrastructure; and
• setting high-level strategic direction for land use planning in the region.

The invitees include key stakeholders who have a clear role and interest in land use planning for the region, including:

• local governments;
• State government public service departments and statutory authorities;
• Australian government entities;
• natural resource management and environmental non-government organisations, with a regional-scale interest;
• peak industry advocacy groups; and
• native title representative bodies and Traditional Owners.

Under the Infrastructure Western Australia Act 2019 (IWA Act), Infrastructure WA is tasked with preparing a State Infrastructure Strategy to provide a state-wide perspective of Western Australia’s infrastructure needs and priorities over the next 20 years.

The first 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy was tabled in the Parliament of Western Australia in August 2022. This document, titled Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow, details new major projects and programs, along with non-build solutions such as policy, planning, regulation, pricing, asset management, technology, procurement and government reforms

The WAPC’s Regional Planning Strategies will be aligned with and implement, the State Infrastructure Strategy’s recommendations to the extent that they are supported in the Western Australian Government’s response.

Regional planning strategies are a key component of the land use planning system in Western Australia. They are mainly used to guide decision making of the WAPC and local governments by:

• connecting the varying spatial scales (or levels) of strategic planning, thereby providing a line-of-sight between the WAPC’s State Planning Strategy and sub-regional strategies, and local planning strategies prepared by local governments; and
• connecting with other modes of planning, thereby influencing statutory mechanisms such as planning schemes and spatial plan making such as sub-regional frameworks and structure plans.

The Regional Planning Strategies will also serve a broader purpose that:

• establishes a vision for the future development of the region;
• addresses the scale and distribution of future population growth; and
• integrates other initiatives, programs, policies and projects relevant to the region, with a focus on land use planning implications.

As such, they can be used by any individual or organisation with an interest in the future direction of the region.

The WAPC is a board which responds to the strategic direction of government and provides advice and certain statutory decisions on urban, rural and regional land-use planning and land development matters throughout Western Australia.

The WAPC has state-wide responsibility for urban, rural and regional integrated strategic and statutory land use planning and land development, working in conjunction with both State and local government.

Formed in 2017, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage brings all land use and heritage responsibilities under the one umbrella to shape the future of our cities, regions and towns.

Responsible for state level land use planning and management, and oversight of Aboriginal cultural heritage and built heritage matters, the Department supports four Ministers and administers a wide range of legislation.

Perth and Peel @ 3.5million is an existing regional planning strategy with land use planning and infrastructure frameworks to accommodate 3.5million people in the Perth and Peel metropolitan region by 2050.

The eight new Regional Planning Strategies are also part of the State’s planning framework to provide for the comprehensive planning of the other regions within the State.