Supporting growth in the City of Perth

Over the last two years we’ve talked a lot about the importance of a new planning scheme and its role in promoting growth and seeing more people living in the heart of the city.?

Recently, our Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has been a vocal leader who wants to maximise the opportunity in front of us by getting industry and government together to ensure the right incentives are included and roadblocks removed.?It's no easy task when you are combining multiple schemes which were drafted decades ago.

We’ve also been clear this is a long process to go through. We are probably looking at 2024-25 at the earliest once the WAPC finishes its part and the new scheme is in effect.?

If we waited for this process to take its course, the first building developed under these new rules probably wouldn’t open until maybe 2028.

That’s way too long.

To ensure we provide clear guidance and certainty to our stakeholders developing the city before the new scheme is in force, Council has developed a draft policy to deal with ad-hoc scheme amendments. This will soon be out for consultation with industry.?

We can all think of prime locations in the city which have been sitting there vacant long before COVID came along. This policy will help promote activity right now. Either through promoting amalgamation of lots which provide attractive investment options, or giving tools to current owners to finally put those long-held plans into place.

You can view the draft policy in our August council meeting agenda paper (item 16.1)

Thanks to Michelle Reynolds , Dale Page and the City’s administration for their ongoing work both in supporting the Policy & Legislation Committee and facilitating this particular item.