Public Open Space (POS) areas are an essential component of all neighbourhoods in Western Australia and are commonly identified as parks. POS provides opportunities to improve our health and cater for our lifestyle, whilst accommodating some of our environmental, economic and infrastructure requirements.
The draft Operational Policy 2.3: Planning for Public Open Space has been prepared on the underlying principle that additional residential lots generate additional community demand for POS, whether that be in new suburbs that are being developed, or via infill development in established suburbs. The draft policy reinforces the existing POS policy requirement for a minimum 10 per cent POS provision in all residential areas. Addressing the increased demand can be met in two ways, either:
- more land is provided to allow for new POS to be established, or
- by providing additional and improved facilities within existing POS areas.
Key improvements to the draft policy have been made to better respond to contemporary planning and community needs. These include:
- Recognition that in established (infill) suburbs, existing parks assist in fulfilling the POS land component for the additional POS community needs, and as such, while the overall 10 per cent POS provision remains a key policy measure, POS contributions may be potentially reduced for subdivisions (including all strata lots).
- Variations to the POS contribution rate may be considered for some strata subdivision applications, mixed-use proposals and in regional areas.
- Greater emphasis on the role of a local government’s local planning strategy in identifying community needs for POS in terms of land provision, facilities and distribution, including opportunities for upgrades to existing POS. This is not restricted to just residential areas as demand for POS can also occur in other areas.
- Removal of a three or five lot threshold, below which a POS contribution has generally not been sought. Instead apply more consistently to all residential subdivision (including all strata subdivision), excluding most two lot subdivisions.
The draft policy is part of a wider review of POS policy. It will replace Development Control Policy 2.3 – Public Open Space in Residential Areas and Position Statement – Expenditure of Cash in Lieu of Public Open Space and will supplement the Liveable Neighbourhoods policy. The design, functionality and calculations relating to POS provision shall continue to be contained within Liveable Neighbourhoods (until a replacement new Neighbourhood Design Policy is finalised).
In addition to finalising the draft policy, it is anticipated that future reforms to planning for POS will investigate other methods of calculating the contribution for POS – this may include a set fee per lot contribution to replace the current per centage mechanism for calculating contributions, as well as reviewing when POS contributions are made. The changes being considered as part of this stage will require legislative change for them to be able to be implemented.
Since publication of the draft policy on 9 June 2023, the WAPC has determined that, as the draft policy is likely to generate a wide range of differing views, the status of the policy should be changed to “draft – public consultation. Not intended for decision making”. Accordingly, the published version of the draft policy is now demarcated as such.
To make a submission on the advertised draft Operational Policy 2.3: Planning for Public Open Space visit www.consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au. Comments close 22 September 2023.
