Planning Laws Shake-Up Welcome

Planning Laws Shake-Up WelcomeThe Western Australian Government’s enactment of a number of necessary planning reforms identified in the discussion paper ‘Planning Makes it Happen: Phase Two’ will provide major improvements to the WA planning system.The key reform initiatives of the Phase 2 discussion paper focused on improving statutory planning processes, enforcing greater alignment of local schemes with state planning policies, alignment of strategic planning and infrastructure planning, and improvements to the administration of Development Assessment Panels.Major reforms specifically recommended by the Property Council of Australia have been taken up by the government, such as the lowering of the opt-in threshold for heading directly to development assessment panels, a review of the WAPC’s infrastructure co-ordinating committee and online applications.A number of planning reforms outlined in the discussion paper ‘Planning Makes it Happen: Phase Two’ are designed to facilitate faster housing approvals and implement savings in the cost and time taken to develop land.Joe Lenzo, Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, said “it is heartening to see that so many of the crucial and fundamental reforms identified by the Property Council of Australia have been addressed.””The last raft of reforms to the Western Australian planning system created a strong and robust framework. These new reforms will push WA to the forefront of the national planning conversation.””This should not be seen as a loss for local councils, but rather the shifting of responsibility to a body that is specifically structured to have the expertise and capability to shoulder it.””The future of our state is intrinsically linked to our planning policies. Creating a greater strategic alignment between local and state planning schemes will mean a better built future for Western Australia.””The property industry is a driving force in the State’s economy and these reforms will play a central role in keeping WA growing.”To view the Phase Two blueprint, go to: www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/planning_reform_blueprint.pdf