Property developers will be able to circumvent "anti-development" councils and access new infrastructure funding in major changes to planning laws the McGowan government hopes will accelerate the construction of thousands of apartments.
Key points:
- The WA government has lessened the development approval power of councils
- The Opposition says it is taking aim at wealthy western suburbs councils
- A new $80m infrastructure fund for apartment developments has also been revealed
The proposed amendments would further cut out local governments from development approvals in their area, with the opposition saying the government has wealthy councils in Perth's western suburbs in its sights.
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti denied that was the case but did single out Nedlands council, claiming they had a 25-year-old planning scheme that was hampering development.
"What we have in some instances is councils who don't update schemes, whose thinking behind that scheme is 20 years old and then they say, 'Oh well it's not compliant with the scheme'," she said.
"Well your scheme is not compliant with the legislation.
"So this is a key point. This is where councils should be involved, they should be talking to the community and asking, 'where do you want your density?'"
The City of Nedlands has been contacted for comment.
Premier Mark McGowan announced the overhaul of planning laws at a Property Council of WA lunch in the city, sponsored by developers including the Satterley Property Group and Multiplex.
Mr McGowan said the changes would streamline and strengthen the planning system.
The temporary 'Part 17 development pathway', introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020 to stimulate major construction projects worth more than $20 million, will be made permanent.
The pathway allowed developers to bypass councils and seek approval directly from the WA Planning Commission.
The government will also introduce a 120-day limit on assessments.
Under the proposed changes, the number of Development Assessment Panels would be reduced from five to three, with permanent members appointed.
Mr McGowan said after working with the Property Council, the government had decided to increase the number of projects that could be reviewed by the DAPs instead of being assessed by local councils.
Currently, development proposals of less than 10 multiple dwellings cannot be assessed by a DAP.
But the government would remove this requirement, so multiple dwelling developments of any number could be assessed by a panel if they were valued at $2 million or more.
Developments become 'vehicles for grandstanding'
"These changes will improve consistency in decision making across the state and enable proponents to choose the most appropriate and efficient pathway," Mr McGowan said.
"We're all tired of quality multi-dwelling proposals becoming a vehicle for grandstanding by anti-development councils and individuals facing re-election at local council level.
"Such decisions sell the community short, stonewalling development, preventing investment, it can rob the community of improved amenity, better services, expanded local retail and job opportunities close to home."
The government has also announced a new infrastructure fund designed to help speed up construction of apartments across the state.
The $80 million Infrastructure Development Fund would help offset the costs of providing water, sewerage, and electricity services for proposed apartment developments in urban infill and METRONET station areas.
It would also be used in regional areas to solve water, wastewater and electricity infrastructure obstacles and build accommodation for essential workers.
The money would not go to the developers but be paid straight to the Water Corporation and Synergy.
Money to speed up projects
The government said the fund would improve the economic feasibility of these projects.
Ms Saffioti said there were thousands of apartments with approval to build but stuck in limbo due to increased costs.
"That's why this fund is wanting to bring forward projects that may not be developed for four to five years," she said.
"If we can bring them forward to the next two, they've already got development approval, that's what we're very keen to see."
Property Council of WA executive director Sandra Brewer was enthusiastic about the changes, saying they would unlock new developments and push stalled projects ahead.
"[It] might just be enough to help the feasibilities if the electricity, sewerage, water costs are covered by this fund. That's a really good outcome," Ms Brewer said.
"We would anticipate that developers will be reviewing their feasibilities as we speak and getting a great proportion of those online again."
Outer suburbs ignored, says opposition
Opposition Housing Spokesman Steve Martin was sceptical.
"These will probably be expensive apartments in the western suburbs," he said.
"The premier has mentioned the inner city and infill. That's good, but I do hope those savings are passed on to people who are buying those apartments, and it does nothing by the way for the outer suburbs."
Mr Martin added the changes would do nothing to ease the state's housing crisis.
"The social housing waitlist continues to grow, and the government cannot build their own social houses, so I don't understand how this makes housing more affordable, and more available quickly," Mr Martin said.
"We all know what the real constraints facing the building sector are. It's shortages of skilled staff and supply chain issues."
But Ms Saffioti said thousands more people were moving to WA and being trained in skilled occupations.