January 31, 2019 McGowan Government sidelines locals in density debate Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has signalled her intention to sideline local councils and residents to force infill and higher densities in established suburbs. Shadow Planning Minister Liza Harvey said Minister Saffioti’s announced yesterday that the McGowan Government would override the City of Nedlands and impose its own planning scheme on Nedlands should ring alarm bells for all local authorities. Ms Harvey said the City of Nedlands had put together a new Local Planning Scheme, including additional density and that the Western Australian Planning Commission had returned it with massively increased densities. “The City of Nedlands has valid concerns," Ms Harvey said. "You only have to travel along Stirling Highway to realise how congested it is. If you’re looking at significantly increasing density along an already congested arterial road, you are only going to create further problems. “I would encourage Minister Saffioti and the WAPC to further consult with the City of Nedlands, its residents, and also other local governments which will be impacted by increased congestion along Stirling Highway, before forcing this on the City.” The City of Nedlands has been working with the WAPC since 2009 to determine how 4,400 new dwellings could be distributed throughout its suburbs. Ms Harvey said Nedlands Mayor, Max Hipkins, claimed the McGowan Labor Government had “changed the goalposts” and was now demanding 9,000 new dwellings, more than double the 4,400 initially agreed on. “The City has worked with successive State Governments and I believe the Minister and the WAPC should continue to work with them to achieve a fair outcome that both addresses the need for density, while balancing the amenity of the suburbs and the required transport infrastructure to support it,” Ms Harvey said. “Once you remove the large numbers of people attending events at Optus Stadium, we’ve seen a real decline in public transport patronage, along with increased fares under this Government. "Their current campaign of ‘give public transport a go’ is evident that Perth residents continue to choose their cars. What this planning scheme threatens is significantly more traffic in an area that is already congested.” Media Contact |
