THE McGowan government has passed historic planning reforms after negotiating changes with minor parties.
As part of negotiations with minor parties, a number of changes have been made to the original legislation including the definition of a significant development.
A 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 (excludes warehouses).
Premier Mark McGowan said these reforms will cut red tape, create local jobs and help drive economic activity following COVID-19.
“By introducing new laws to simplify the planning system Western Australians will be able to better navigate the system. This will help get more people onto new developments and into jobs that help build and benefit local communities.
“Now the legislation has been passed, a new development application process will be immediately introduced to support significant, job-creating projects for the next 18 months to provide immediate support for Western Australia’s economic recovery,” the premier said.
A new development application process will be immediately introduced to support significant, job-creating projects for the next 18 months. To assist with the assessment of development applications through the new “significant development’ pathway a new team is being established within the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to support the Western Australian Planning Commission with its temporary decision-making role.
“We have already moved to establish a team in the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to support the Western Australian Planning Commission with its temporary decision-making role, while also continuing to engage with local government on the drafting of supporting regulations,” Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said.
