Future planning for Perth needs co-ordination and vision: Minister

21/3/01
Housing Minister Tom Stephens said Perth needed a greater emphasis on public comment and direction to be a city for the future.
Mr Stephens was last night speaking to a meeting of the Inner City Housing Developers' Association.
"It is important to incorporate a cross-section of housing in all regions of the city to address areas which are currently dominated by public housing," he said.
"There are restraints which make it difficult to increase affordable housing in the city, but Government and local government can play a part in freeing-up constraints.
"There needs to be a total approach to planning, building, strata titles and costs such as headworks, rates and land taxes.
"There needs to be some flexibility and encouragement to developers to include affordable housing."
Mr Stephens said it could be worthwhile considering suggestions from the non-Government agency City Housing.
These included tax incentives to developers for the inclusion of community homes of a charitable nature and the City of Perth being able to grant extra plot ratios for the inclusion of affordable housing.
"We need to be more receptive to change and creative in planning for the future housing needs in the city," Mr Stephens said.
"We want a city that we can be rightly proud to be a part of, a place for people to work and live in harmony."
Media contact: Julie Cole 9213 6500