Release of development plans for new community in Yanchep-Two Rocks area

20/8/96

The State Government has taken a significant step forward in planning for the future growth of Perth with the release of finalised land use plans to guide the development of a new community in the Yanchep-Two Rocks area.

Planning Minister Richard Lewis said the future community would boast large areas of open space, benefit from efficient transport links and have its own employment and business opportunities.

In State Parliament today, Mr Lewis tabled an amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS), which controls permitted land uses throughout the metropolitan area.

Mr Lewis said the St Andrews Amendment would equip the area to cater for its expected growth by setting aside appropriate land for future purposes, balancing the demand for urban land with conservation and recreation needs.

"The aim is to create a quality urban environment which will be sustainable in the long-term and based on the most up-to-date and innovative planning concepts," he said.

"A major new regional centre will form the heart of the system of urban villages, providing local services and employment within easy reach of residents. Green links will connect the residential areas to the coast and the national park.

"Under the new zoning, the area has the potential to provide up to 38,000 residential lots which could accommodate around 115,000 people, representing about 14 per cent of the expected metropolitan growth over the next 30 years.

"Perth's population is expected to almost double over this time, so it is important to provide adequate land to accommodate this growth in a way that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

The amendment provides for a strategic regional centre of 160 hectares to accommodate major retail and commercial facilities as well as employment, mixed business and residential uses.

It will be 27 kilometres north of the Joondalup regional centre and 11 kilometres north of the proposed Alkimos regional centre.

The regional centre will include an area of district open space to form part of a green link from Yanchep National Park to the coast.

Mr Lewis said the amendment would reserve more than 1,000 hectares of land for regional open space.

"There will be a coastal foreshore reserve, and east-west greenbelt on the southern boundary between the amendment area and Eglinton, and a north-south open space link between Wilbinga Crown land and Yanchep National Park," he said.

The amendment provides for northern extensions to the Mitchell Freeway and Marmion Avenue, east-west connections linking Marmion Avenue and the freeway and provision to include a public transport spine for future extension of the northern suburbs rail system which will provide a real alternative to the private car.

Mr Lewis said local employment opportunities would be enhanced as a 136-hectare industrial area was developed for light and service industries.

"The carefully planned development and improvements in services has been welcomed by the local community," he said.

"As a result of the community consultation process, I have agreed to two changes to the draft amendment advertised in January by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

"Four lots on Two Rocks Road have been deleted from the parks and recreation reservation for the coastal foreshore. This will enable the commission and the City of Wanneroo to look at other alternatives suggested by the landowners to protect this area in the future.

"The second modification to the advertised amendment is an adjustment to the boundary for the Mitchell Freeway reservation to allow for the new link road between Two Rocks and Wanneroo Road."

Mr Lewis said the amendment had also paved the way for co-operation between State Government agencies and the major landowners, Tokyu Corporation, to embark on a program of development through a memorandum of understanding.

"This includes improvement to the Two Rocks town centre and marina, extensions to Marmion Avenue and construction of the link road between Two Rocks and Wanneroo Road," he said.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377