Perth s Infill Dilemma

Perth’s Infill DilemmaHas the Perth community ever examined the question about how we want our city to grow as deeply as it is now?The Property Council has been a vocal advocate for greater infill development and housing density that takes advantage of existing infrastructure by building up around busy centres and along major transport corridors.If you don’t believe us that this is essential for the future of Perth, believe the Environmental Protection Authority. Believe the Planning Institute, the Conservation Council, WACOSS, the Heart Foundation and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.The State Government’s draft Perth & Peel @ 3.5 million strategic land use plan is an overdue and necessary piece of strategic planning for the growth of the Perth region. Unfortunately the plan lacks the actions required to deliver on its vision.The plan anticipates the need for an additional 800,000 new dwellings to house Perth’s population growth over the 40 years from 2010 to 20. The plan also requires that 380,000 or 47% of the new dwellings are to be located in infill developments by 20, mostly in established suburbs of Perth. However, since 2010 the rate of infill development has been at or below 30%. This means the required rate of infill development over the next 35 years to meet the 20 target, is getting higher every year that Perth registers a sub 47% result. Our research shows that on current trends Perth will require an effective rate of infill development over % in the next decade and over 60% in subsequent decades. This presents Perth with two scenarios to choose. We can act quickly to radically lift the rate of infill development by aggressively rezoning land in Perth for infill and high density housing development or we can choose the business as usual approach which incrementally increases the rate of infill development, leaving the hard work of delivering infill for future generations. If we take the easy route, we don’t have to get into battles with local groups and councils now who refuse to accept this reality for Perth. If we do this though, by the time we get to the required rate of infill development it will be approaching 70% and more. From an industry perspective this presents a dilemma. Do developers gear-up now for a necessary lift in the rate of infill development in Perth or should the industry expect another decade or so of business as usual and have a significantly harder task to meet the infill requirement later on.Hopefully the final Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million plan has a better roadmap for developers to follow.Chris Palandri Property Council of Australia WA President