Planning Minister John Carey has today announced the Cook Government will bring forward new measures to reduce the regulatory burden and cost for infill development, while it undertakes consultation on a draft Public Open Space policy.
As an interim measure, while consultation continues, amendments to local government delegations will be enacted shortly, to ensure the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) is the decision maker on any applications of public open space contributions for built strata applications in the Perth metropolitan area and the South West.
These changes will ensure there is a consistent and fair approach to public open space contributions across all local governments and also limit the capacity for councils to apply unforeseen project costs, which may prevent much needed apartment developments in the current housing market.
Minister Carey has also confirmed the Government will not support any changes to the Public Open Space policy that add regulatory burden and cost to the delivery of infill developments.
Public open space is generally provided at a minimum rate of 10 per cent of subdivided residential land at all new greenfield sites, with contributions for the creation of public open space and its facilities sought from those subdividing land.
However, under the existing policy, all proposals that increase the number of lots can potentially be required to make a land or monetary contribution to public open space. This can include apartment and mixed-use developments that create new built strata lots.
Currently there are two main issues with how public open space contributions are considered in the context of built strata applications.
These include:
- inconsistent application of public open space contribution requirements across various local governments; and
- the imposition of a public open space contribution condition at the end of the process, after development approval and the building permit has been issued, which is resulting in uncertainty and ultimately adding cost to the buyers of these dwellings.
Early feedback from some stakeholders on the draft policy has raised concerns, particularly for infill development, and its impacts on the availability and affordability of homes for future buyers.
Developers, planners, community groups, local governments and homeowners are encouraged to continue to have their say on options to modernise a longstanding planning policy guiding contributions towards public open spaces.
All views presented on the proposed policy changes will be reviewed and analysed to help inform the next steps so a more contemporary policy can be considered by the (WAPC) for implementation in the future.
More information about the draft policy is available on the Consultation Hub.
Submissions can be made online until Friday 25 August 2023.
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