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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 346 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 June 2010 by Hon Lynn Maclaren

Parliament: 38 Session: 1


SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING INITIATIVES


346. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:

(1) Is the Minister for Planning aware of the recently released “Sustainable Cities Index” by the Australian Conservation Foundation that ranks Perth as the least sustainable city amongst Australia’s 20 largest cities?

(2) Is the Minister for Planning aware that the median house price is predicted to rise 22 per cent over the next three years?

(3) As house prices rise and the demand for development increases, are there any planning measures in place to ensure that future development meets sustainability criteria such as energy and water efficiency, and access to public transport?

(4) If yes to (3), what are these planning initiatives?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

I thank the member for some notice of the question.

(1) Yes. The sustainability of the Perth metropolitan area is a priority of the Liberal–National government. It is vital that Greens (WA) members support the Approvals and Related Reforms (No. 4) (Planning) Bill 2009 if they are serious about transforming Perth into a city that achieves a higher sustainability rating. Without much-needed legislative reforms, it will be difficult to improve densities around train stations and create corridors for enhanced public transport services such as light rail.

(2) Yes. Housing affordability is a priority of the Liberal–National government and planning reforms are central to ensure that there is a strong supply of housing in a variety of forms, including small apartments. The reforms before the Legislative Council are a vital component in the fight against higher housing prices. The government calls on the Greens to support the Approvals and Related Reforms (No. 4) (Planning) Bill so that the predictions of BIS Shrapnel are averted. It is also noted that the Real Estate Institute of WA believes there will be a small increase in price growth over the next few months.

(3) Yes. The Liberal–National government is committed to urban density targets in order to ensure a more sustainable housing outcome. The Approvals and Related Reforms (No. 4) (Planning) Bill is a vital component to achieve higher sustainability. The Western Australian Planning Commission has a number of strategies and policies, including Directions 2031, which are aimed at achieving more sustainable patterns of growth and development.

(4) Directions 2031 provides a higher order strategic planning framework for the medium to long-term urban growth of Perth and Peel, including the accommodation of an additional half a million people by 2031, and looks beyond to a city of 3.5 million people by the middle of the century. Sustainability principles are built into the strategic planning framework that describes a metropolitan structure of activity centres, movement and green networks. The minister expects to release the final report on Directions 2031 in early August based on feedback from an extensive public consultation process held from June to August 2009. The minister will also release for public comment two subregional growth management strategies that contain strategies and actions to achieve a balance between the expansion of the urban area and opportunities for urban infill and consolidation. It should also be acknowledged that the WAPC has a comprehensive set of policies that promote best practice models of urban development. These policies include the application of liveable neighbourhood guidelines, protection of rural land uses, and the environment and natural resources policy. The Approvals and Related Reforms (No. 4) (Planning) Bill is a key reform through which Parliament can support the objectives of the Liberal–National government.