Government provides certainty over Perth and Peel planning

• Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions to be discontinued
• Regional planning under the State's Native Vegetation Policy to be prioritised for Perth and Peel
  

The State Government will discontinue the Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions (SAPPR), instead prioritising regional planning to help provide certainty over land usage planning while addressing cumulative environmental impacts.

The SAPPR process began under the previous government in 2011 as a large-scale environmental assessment of the Perth and Peel regions. It was however, suspended in 2018 given concerns over its scale, complexity, and deliverability.

The assessment has now been permanently discontinued, with the 2017 endorsement of the Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million framework addressing many of the issues that prompted the SAPPR process initially.

The McGowan Government will instead prioritise regional planning for Perth and Peel under WA's Native Vegetation Policy, which will address cumulative environmental impacts in Perth and Peel.

Detailed conservation and restoration plans will be developed to reverse declining environmental values in Perth and Peel, and to help facilitate State and Commonwealth environmental approvals.

The cross-government work will be led by the Environment and Planning portfolios and will incorporate products and datasets produced through the SAPPR.

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"It is vitally important that we balance the need for land availability with managing environmental impacts in Perth and the Peel region.

"My Government has already taken important steps to provide long-term planning certainty for development through the Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million framework - and this decision will help to ensure we are also tackling environmental impacts in our city and the Peel."

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

"Robust protection is paramount - and this decision will help ensure the unique environment of our Perth and Peel regions will be safeguarded into the future.

"Our Government is committed to protecting WA's biodiversity - and this will provide certainty, while striking a balance between conservation and development."

Comments attributed to Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Our city is growing rapidly - and the Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million land use and planning frameworks will continue to guide future development.

"While SAPPR will be discontinued, it has fed into the Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million land use and planning frameworks - which will address many of the issues that prompted its establishment in 2011."

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Environment Minister's office - 6552 6300

Planning Minister's office - 6552 5500