- Major planning reforms to further cut unnecessary
red tape and bolster housing supply in WA
- Cook Government leading the nation in delivering
planning reforms to accelerate construction of homes
- Permanent significant development pathway to be
introduced for projects over $20 million in the Metropolitan and Peel areas,
and over $5 million in regional WA
- Improved consistency in decision-making through
changes to Development Assessment Panels
- Cutting unnecessary red tape for single-home
approvals
New planning reforms aimed
at boosting housing supply and accelerating decision-making will be introduced
to State Parliament today.
The reforms are a key pillar
of the Cook Government's plans to boost housing supply to align with plans
recently agreed to by National Cabinet.
The Planning and
Development Amendment Bill 2023 will enable the delivery of the Cook
Government's priority planning reforms, identified through significant
community and industry consultation on planning reform undertaken over the past
six years.
The Bill proposes five key
initiatives to facilitate and accelerate coordinated delivery of housing and
other key infrastructure, including:
1.
A new permanent significant development pathway
for projects;
2.
Reforms to clarify decision making in local
government for single houses;
3.
Reforms to Development Assessment Panels,
including:
- Reduction in the number of panels from five to
three (Metro-Inner; Metro-Outer; Regional) to improve consistency in
decision-making;
- Appoint full-time, fixed term specialist
members, retain a pool of sessional members and reduce perceptions of conflict
of interest;
- Removal of previous mandatory thresholds of $20 million
for the City of Perth and $10 million for the rest of the State, making the DAP
system an opt-in pathway for any development proposal over $2 million (including
grouped or multi-dwellings but excluding single houses and ancillary structures);
and
- Providing all community housing projects with
the ability to opt into the DAP pathway regardless of the size or value of the
proposal.
4.
Improving existing planning processes to cut
unnecessary red tape, including removal of duplicate processes for the
subdivision of land, streamlining the review of planning schemes and planning
codes; and
5.
Reform of the Western Australian Planning
Commission (WAPC).
The new permanent significant
development pathway will be a refined version of the temporary COVID-19 pathway
through Part 17 of the Planning & Development Act 2005, with
improvements - including a timeframe for determination (120 days) - to make it
suitable in a post COVID-19 environment.
It will provide complex
proposals of more than $20 million in the Perth and Peel regions and more than
$5 million in regional WA with an option for a streamlined, efficient and
coordinated assessment.
The reforms to decision
making in local government for single houses will mean that most single houses
and any associated development, except where heritage is involved, are now
mandated to the local government administration for determination. These
applications will be determined by technical experts, through the chief
executive officer or local government employee, ensuring a more efficient
process to speed up the delivery of housing.
This will enable councils
to focus on strategic planning for their communities to ensure that local
planning frameworks (strategies, schemes and policies) are contemporary and fit
for purpose.
The important role of local
governments will continue for all DAP applications, who will perform the
initial assessment, consultation and ability to make a recommendation.
Reform of the WAPC will
improve efficiency in decision making, streamline membership and clarify its
role as an expert advisor and independent decision-making body with the
necessary technical expertise.
Comments attributed to
Premier Roger Cook:
"Governments across
Australia are facing challenges with housing supply – these significant reforms
are a key plank of my Government's response to the current barriers to delivery.
"The reforms focus on
five key areas to deliver more homes for Western Australian families as well as
the infrastructure required for future generations.
"Western Australia is
leading the nation in delivering planning reforms, and the introduction of this
comprehensive Bill is an important step towards meeting our commitments under the
National Planning Reform Blueprint.
"These latest reforms
complement our record $2.6 billion investment in social housing and
homelessness measures, which includes funding to deliver 4,000 new social
homes."
Comments attributed to
Planning Minister John Carey:
"As Planning, Lands,
Housing and Homelessness Minister – my resolute focus remains – we must do
everything we can to accelerate the delivery of housing across all parts of the
housing continuum in Western Australia.
"The Cook Labor
Government's planning reforms will streamline existing processes, cut
unnecessary red tape and build efficiencies into existing processes, ensuring
that there are no unreasonable impacts on progressing planning and subsequent
development of new homes.
"A permanent significant
pathway is critical for ensuring that we have clear, and streamlined process
for major projects, including housing developments in Western Australia.
"Planning must adapt and
change to deal with future market challenges and ensure housing supply for now
and into the future.
"Our Government will
continue to deliver and support reforms to assist WA to meet the housing and
density infill developments that it desperately needs to boost housing supply."
