- Community, industry and stakeholder consultation to begin
- Reforms to streamline the planning system, and slash red tape
- Property Council welcomes the move
The Western Australian government has commenced phase two of its planning reforms.
Seeking community, industry and stakeholder feedback on the next phase of reforms, the aim is said “to streamline the planning system, slash red tape, and create and provide consistency across local government.”
Local Government Minister, John Carey, said local government can be difficult to navigate, “with significant differences in approaches by councils.”
“This is a unique opportunity to identify reforms in the local government sector that can support changes in our planning system and improve the consistency of decision making on planning and development matters.”
John Carey, Minister for Local Government
So far…
The State Government said it has already implemented a number of changes that ” saw the creation of a new approvals pathway for significant developments and changes to the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) system,”.
“Seven proposals have been approved under the new significant development pathway, with another 13 currently under assessment.”
It was also said that “the reforms have seen the number of DAPs reduce from nine to five panels and from next year, the number of DAPs will reduce from five to three,”.
This news also comes as a 20-year state infrastructure draft was recently proposed.
Property Council response
The Property Council (PCA) WA responded positively to the new tranche of proposed planning reforms, PCA WA Executive Director Sandra Brewer said it will be welcome news for prospective homeowners.
“Reforms to remove red tape will deliver productivity gains which will ultimately lead to faster housing supply and keep a lid on rapidly escalating house prices.”
Sandra Brewer, Property Council WA Executive Director
“As the WA Government looks for solutions to boost housing supply, measures that improve efficiency in planning and ensure a continuous pipeline of supply will be vital to tilting the balance back in favour of homebuyers.”
