FAQs

A Local Planning Strategy is a document that outlines the City’s strategic intentions for planning and development. It establishes key principles that will be used in considering land use and development in response to changes in population, housing, business, employment, transport, community facilities and infrastructure.

The development of the Local Planning Strategy is the first stage of a broader process to review the City’s Town Planning Scheme No. 2. It will provide the basis for the new Local Planning Scheme No. 3 and subsequent Local Planning Policies and Development Plans.

You’ll find a copy of the draft Local Planning Strategy along with all supporting information in the Document Library.

If you prefer, copies can be requested by emailing us, planning@nedlands.wa.gov.au or by calling 9273 3500. 

The draft Local Planning Strategy is a two part document. It may not be necessary for you to read the draft Local Planning Strategy in its entirety. 

Part One includes a spatial plan (local planning strategy map) and a set of Intentions and Strategies that will assist the City of Nedlands implementing the City's Vision. Part One represents the City’s position on planning matters and is used in the formulation of the Local Planning Scheme, Local Planning Policies and as a planning assessment tool.

Part Two contains all relevant background information and an analysis of the issues the City of Nedlands is facing. Part Two provides the rationale for Part One. Part Two is set out in chapters that cover the different topics that are relevant to urban planning. You may wish to view chapters that cover the topics most relevant to you.

There are a number of ways you can ask questions you may have about the Strategy:

• Ask a question online. You can submit a question here. Questions will be considered and responded to by a member of the project team as soon as possible, but no later than the next business day.

• Come along to an Open Day where you can speak to a member of the project team. Open Days are being held on the following days:

             Wednesday 6 April   4pm to 7pm   Drabble House, Webster Street
             Saturday 9 April        9am to 1pm   Mt Claremont Community Centre
             Thursday 28 April     4pm to 7pm   Dalkeith Hall, Waratah Avenue
             Saturday 30 April      9am to 1pm   Council Offices

• Call us on 9273 3500 and ask to speak with a Strategic Planning Officer.

• Talk to us by visiting the City’s Administration Office at 71 Stirling Highway, Nedlands.

The reason the City is advertising the Local Planning Strategy is to understand your thoughts on the proposed future of the City of Nedlands and whether you agree or disagree with the Intentions and Strategies proposed. We are keen to understand what your thoughts are and how they can be addressed.

Further information on how to comment on the draft Local Planning Strategy is contained on the front page of the engagement page.

Existing residential areas within the City are predominantly characterised by single family homes. The Local Planning Strategy highlights an increasing need for a range of housing types within the City. It is considered beneficial to increase this diversity and incorporate higher density living opportunities, particularly along Stirling Highway.

This diversification in housing stock will also assist in housing Perth’s growing population. By the year 2050, the Western Australian State Government anticipates that the population of Perth will rise to 3.5 million. In order to accommodate this population growth in an efficient and cost effective manner, the State Government has established a target for residential intensification within existing urban areas.

The City of Nedlands has been set a target to provide an additional 4,400 dwellings by 2050 through consolidation and intensification of existing urban centres, with comparatively good access to public transport, facilities and amenities.

Some tall buildings are likely to be permitted along Stirling Highway, particularly around the existing centres at the intersections of Loch Street, Hampden Road/Broadway and Dalkeith Road, which are close to public transport and existing retail/commercial activity. These locations are considered ideal for accommodating taller buildings and reduce the need to expand more intense development, further into the existing residential areas.

The target infill development areas are primarily focused on existing activity corridors of Stirling Highway, Hampden Road and Broadway, in addition to existing neighbourhood and local centres and a number of strategic redevelopment sites. The target infill development areas represent about 6 per cent of the total area of the City.

It is unlikely you will be able to precisely identify your property on the Local Planning Strategy Map. The Local Planning Strategy is a high level strategic document that discusses broad issues that affect the City of Nedlands as a whole, and therefore does not include details that affect individual properties.

The City cannot comment on whether any of the proposed changes may affect property values. It is recommended you get in touch with a licensed valuer or trusted real estate representative to provide professional advice on these matters.

The targeted infill development proposed will not occur until such time as the City prepares a new Local Planning Scheme and endorses Local Planning Policies that will guide land owners in their development proposals.

As the Local Planning Strategy details the strategic intentions until 2030, the Local Planning Scheme No. 3 will achieve the short term strategic intentions through statutory control.  Completing the new Scheme and Local Planning Policies is a priority. The drafting process is set out in legislation, but it is difficult to estimate a completion date. The City is committed to keeping the community and stakeholders informed as each step towards a new Local Planning Scheme is completed.

A Local Planning Scheme is a statutory document that provides the detailed controls to appropriately manage land uses and development within the City of Nedlands. Under current legislation, Town Planning Schemes are now referred to as Local Planning Schemes.

The Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, requires a Local Planning Scheme to be reviewed every five years.

The City’s current Town Planning Scheme No. 2 was gazetted in 1985, and was last reviewed and consolidated in 1995.

Since Town Planning Scheme No. 2’s adoption in 1985 and consolidation in 1995, the planning system in Western Australia has undergone major reforms, making many of the provisions in Town Planning Scheme No. 2 obsolete or difficult to administer.

A new Local Planning Scheme No. 3 will ensure that the City meets current planning practice standards for managing land use and development.

The City has begun the preliminary stages of drafting a new Local Planning Scheme.

However, the finalisation of the draft Local Planning Strategy will greatly assist in giving the City clarification on the community’s attitudes towards change within the locality. This will ensure that any new Local Planning Scheme reflects the community’s expectations for land use control and development.

Following advertising of the Local Planning Strategy, the City will put its resources into drafting a new Local Planning Scheme.

It is anticipated that the draft Local Planning Scheme will be completed for Council consideration by the end of 2016.

The process that follows includes:

• Examination of the Scheme by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC)
• Make modifications to the Scheme as required by the WAPC
• Receive advice from the WAPC that the Scheme is suitable to be advertised
• Commence public consultation on the draft Local Planning Scheme
• Review and compile submissions
• Make modifications to the Scheme as necessary
• Present a modified Scheme to Council for final adoption
• Submit final adopted Scheme to WAPC for consideration
• WAPC submits Scheme and considered recommendation to Minister for Planning
• Minister for Planning to make decision on Scheme
• Scheme to be endorsed by the WAPC, Minister to endorse and approve, WAPC to certify authorised copy
• Advertise approved Scheme in the Government Gazette

A Local Planning Scheme does not take effect until the day it is gazetted. Given the complexity of the steps involved between drafting a Scheme and gazettal of a Scheme, it is unrealistic to place defined timelines on when a Scheme may be in effect, however it is a priority for the City of Nedlands.

We would love it if you used the online surveys to comment on the draft Local Planning Strategy, which can be found here.

If you prefer, the surveys can be completed in hard copy by collecting a copy from:

• Any of the Open Days
• Visiting the City’s Administration Building
• Viewing the static displays at Mt Claremont and Nedlands Libraries.  Access to the public computers will enable you to complete the survey on-line.  Ask for a guest pass from the library staff
• Printed from the community engagement hub (as above)

Completed surveys can be submitted:

• In person: At any of the Open Days or visiting the City's Administration (71 Stirling Hwy) 
• Email:       planning@nedlands.wa.gov.au     
• Post:         PO Box 9 Nedlands 6909

The comment period will close on Friday 6 May 2016.

Comments will be reviewed by the project team.  Where issues are raised, the City will consider modifications to the draft Local Planning Strategy.

All comments are collated into a schedule, to be reported to Council. Submitter details remain confidential.

Yes. The City is required by legislation, Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, to review the draft Local Planning Strategy having regard to any submission made. You are encouraged to make as many or as few comments as you wish. You may also like to speak to a member of the project team before you submit your comments.

Council will be provided with a schedule of submissions and a report detailing whether the project team support or don’t support the submission, or whether the comments are simply ‘noted’. The schedule of submissions will also be provided to the Department of Planning as part of the strategy endorsement process.

Based on the submissions received, the Council may decide to make changes to the draft Local Planning Strategy, depending on the issue and level of community interest.

No. The City of Nedlands values your privacy and right to make a comment without prejudice. At no time will personal details (including name and address) be released to the public.

The engagement period closes on 6 May 2016, following which, the City will compile a schedule of submissions, modify the draft Local Planning Strategy accordingly and report back at the next available Council meeting.