- Further changes to the planning system part of Cook Labor Government’s plan to cut unnecessary red tape and streamline the delivery of housing
- Range of measures will embed greater efficiencies in the system to get development moving quicker
- Targeted changes will improve certainty for industry, reduce administrative burden and support faster decision-making while maintaining strong planning outcomes
- Latest reforms complement previously announced changes to the R-Codes and the Station Precincts program
The Cook Labor Government has unveiled its latest package of measures aimed at cutting unnecessary red tape and further streamlining Western Australia’s planning system to accelerate the delivery of housing and land supply.
A key change will see the current single house planning exemption be extended to proposals of up to four grouped houses and apartments where they meet planning standards, meaning only a building permit is necessary.
WA is the only State with a clear-cut planning exemption for single houses and expanding this to other forms of housing puts WA even further ahead.
Changes also include a new statutory timeframe at the critical delivery stage of the subdivision process that will require local governments to respond to proponents within 28-days of receiving engineering drawings for road design and waterways.
A raft of other legislative, regulatory, policy and practice updates aimed at reducing delays and improving efficiency across the system are proposed, including:
- allowing more local planning and region scheme amendments to progress concurrently, potentially saving around 12 months in approval timeframes;
- streamlining structure planning and subdivision practices and improving the timeliness of subdivision condition clearances;
- strengthening the powers of the Western Australian Planning Commission to modify, progress or cancel structure plans where appropriate;
- improving consistency across local planning schemes; and
- reducing administrative burden and establishing clearer accountability and performance expectations across the planning system.
Several administrative improvements are currently being prepared by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, while legislative and regulatory amendments are being progressed.
These reforms build on the recently announced changes to the R-Codes to enable around 50,000 new subdivisions and our Station Precincts program, aimed at driving medium and high-density infill around key precincts.
Together, these initiatives represent a significant change to the State’s planning system, boosting housing across the continuum.
This practical package of reforms will reduce delays and improve certainty for housing delivery across Western Australia, complementing the Cook Labor Government’s record investment of more than $10.8 billion in housing and homelessness measures.
As stated by Planning and Lands Minister John Carey:
“Western Australia continues to lead the nation in planning reforms that boost housing supply by cutting unnecessary red tape and streamlining planning processes.
“These changes are yet another example of The Cook Labor Government’s sustained effort to make our planning system simpler and more efficient to accelerate the delivery of housing supply.
“By expanding opportunities to progress local and region scheme amendments concurrently, we will significantly reduce the time it takes to move from rezoning to subdivision and development.
“These changes could cut more than a year from planning timeframes and bring forward the delivery of new homes.
“We’re also pursuing exemptions and shorter approval timeframes for lower-risk residential developments, without relaxing standards.
“These reforms will further reduce the administrative burden on local governments, support best practice across the system and create greater consistency for applicants.”
