About the strategy
The Pickering Brook and Surrounds Sustainability and Tourism Strategy (the Strategy) will provide strategic planning guidance for tourism and agriculture-related growth within the Perth Hills.
Tourism development initiatives, including the potential growth of agritourism and the potential expansion of the Pickering Brook townsite will be investigated as part of developing the Strategy.
A Project Taskforce has been established, supported by a Project Working Group with representatives from relevant State Government agencies, and the cities of Kalamunda and Armadale.
This project aims to:
- investigate the planning and economic development-related opportunities, constraints and options to revitalise the Pickering Brook townsite and surrounding area
- provide face-to-face opportunities early in the project for landowners and the community to have their say about the future of the area
- balance the aspirations of local government, landowners and community stakeholders, with State agency requirements, infrastructure capacity, bushfire risks, the environment and the needs of agricultural production
- consider any implications for high-quality agricultural land
- provide direction for future local planning
- carry out necessary examinations for the Pickering Brook Planning Investigation Area, identified in the Perth and Peel@3.5million North-East Sub-regional Planning Framework
- develop strategic recommendations for Government consideration.
The Strategy will be comprised of two separate reports:
- Part 1 - Pickering Brook Townsite
- Part 2 - Facilitating Sustainable Economic Opportunities
Part 1 - Pickering Brook Townsite
After considerable community consultation, a report by the Project Working Group on the potential sustainable expansion of the Pickering Brook townsite has been endorsed by the Project Taskforce.
The key recommendation is that the townsite can support modest expansion of approximately 14 hectares, to protect its rural amenity.
The report recommends that the City of Kalamunda prepare and submit a Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) amendment request, so that the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) may consider rezoning the supported land area from Rural to Urban.
The local community will have another opportunity to have their say on the potential expansion of the Pickering Brook townsite should the WAPC initiate a MRS amendment process.
Part 2 – Facilitating Sustainable Economic Opportunities
Part 2 of the Pickering Brook and Surrounds Sustainability and Tourism Strategy will provide planning guidance on potential tourism uses, identify opportunities for new and existing agritourism, and facilitate the sustainable growth of tourism activity and agriculture production in the area.
A draft Part 2 Strategy Report – Facilitating Sustainable Economic Opportunities –has been prepared and is now open for community feedback.
To have your say on Part 2 please visit the online Consultation Hub.
Consultation closes on Friday 29 April 2022.
Study area
Pickering Brook Planning Investigation Area
The WAPC’s Perth and Peel@3.5million plans for a population of 3.5 million by 2050. The North-East Sub-regional Planning Framework identified several sites as Planning Investigation Areas (PIAs), including 90ha of land adjacent to the existing Pickering Brook townsite.
The Project Working Group and Taskforce has investigated the key considerations for the Pickering Brook PIA and assessed whether any change in land use is appropriate.
See the Part 1 Report for more information.
Key considerations include:
- identification and protection, where appropriate, of priority agricultural land
- impacts on public drinking water resources (Middle Helena Catchment – Priority Area 2)
- bushfire risk
- availability of reticulated water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Surrounds
The Surrounds comprise a significant portion in the Perth Hills between Paulls Valley in the north and Roleystone in the south, within the cities of Kalamunda and Armadale.
The following localities are either wholly or partially within the strategy area:
- Bickley
- Canning Mills
- Carmel
- Hacketts Gulley
- Karragullen
- Paulls Valley
- Pickering Brook
- Piesse Brook
- Roleystone
- Walliston
Project taskforce
The Project Taskforce members are:
Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA
Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports – Chairperson
Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC
Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Hydrogen Industry
Hon. Roger Cook MLA
Deputy Premier; Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Tourism; Commerce; Science
David Caddy
Chairman, Western Australian Planning Commission
Project Working Group
The Project Working Group is chaired by Matthew Hughes MLA, Member for Kalamunda, with representatives from:
- Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
- Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (Tourism WA)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
- City of Kalamunda
- City of Armadale
- Community
Consultation
The study area is a unique place with strong local communities, so canvassing local views is an important part of this process. To ensure the Strategy considers issues and aspirations of the local community, we are providing landowners and community stakeholders with opportunities to provide input at different stages of the Strategy’s preparation.
Community consultation is an integral part of preparing the Pickering Brook and Surrounds Sustainability and Tourism Strategy. In August and September of 2019, the Taskforce and Working Group invited the local community to participate in a survey questionnaire and face-to-face meetings with Members of the Working Group. This preliminary consultation has captured key information on how the community perceives the potential expansion of the Pickering Brook townsite, existing and future tourism in the study area, and has helped identify local issues.
Community consultation opportunities will occur either as part of the Strategy preparation process or as part of subsequent planning processes as considered appropriate by the Taskforce.
Process
Contact us
For more information or assistance with a query, please contact the project team by emailing pickeringbrook@dplh.wa.gov.au or by phoning the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on 6551 8002.
