Major planning reforms brought forward to support the West Australian Government’s economic response to Covid-19 have passed through State Parliament.
The reform centrepiece is a new development application process for significant projects that will be in operation for the next 18 months.
Significant development will now be defined as:
- development proposals with an estimated cost of $20 million or more in the metropolitan region; or
- development proposals with an estimated cost of $5 million in areas outside the metropolitan region (excluding warehouses)
The legislative reforms bring forward a reform process that began with the release of a Green Paper for public comment in May 2018.
They will be accompanied by changes to planning regulations and State planning policies.
The Government says it is continuing to engage with local government on the reforms and has invited the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) to nominate members for three reference groups to shape specific regulation reform measures.