Western Australian councils are being asked to weigh in on major planning changes.
The WA Government has proposed a change to how planning instruments are reviewed, opening consultation on the Planning and Development Amendment Regulations (Review of Planning Instruments) 2025.
The reforms will replace the current five-year review cycle for local planning frameworks with a 10-year requirement, in recognition of the increasing complexity and resourcing demands placed on local governments.
Under the changes, local governments will be required to review their local planning schemes, strategies, structure plans and local development plans every 10 years.
A key component of the process is a new Report of Review, which must assess the effectiveness of each instrument and include evidence-backed recommendations and an implementation timeline. The WA Planning Commission (WAPC) will consider these reports and may refer matters to the Planning Minister if action is required.
Local planning policies (LPPs) will also be subject to stricter rules. Each policy will have a maximum five-year lifespan, after which it must be reviewed or revoked unless formally extended for another five years.
The revised regulations clarify the role of LPPs – policies must be prepared using a standard WAPC-approved format and can only be used to guide decisions under a local scheme.
Amendments to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 will support these changes and align with updates to the WA Planning Manual.
Draft chapters for the manual’s local planning schemes and policies sections are now out for comment. These chapters include new guidance, templates and procedural detail to assist local governments with compliance and consistency across the sector.
Importantly, the proposed reforms also give local governments more flexibility in managing Local Development Plans (LDPs). Authorities will be able to revoke an LDP where a new plan is adopted, the original plan is no longer needed, or a scheme amendment renders it inconsistent with the planning framework.
“This review is part of the Cook Government’s broader reform agenda to increase housing supply by slashing red tape in the planning system and I encourage people to have their say,” said Planning and Lands Minister John Carey.
Submissions are open until 3 October 2025 via the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s consultation hub.
