❓ The Minister for Planning outlines how the government's planning reform agenda, particularly the new local planning scheme regulations, is saving costs and time for new home buyers and renovators by streamlining approvals and reducing red tape.
AnsweredQoN 962Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING
REFORM AGENDA
962. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Planning:
Can the minister please update the house on how the
government's planning reform agenda is saving costs for new home buyers
and people who are renovating their homes?
REFORM AGENDA
962. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Planning:
Can the minister please update the house on how the
government's planning reform agenda is saving costs for new home buyers
and people who are renovating their homes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. As I have mentioned
before, making our planning and approval system more efficient and relevant to
contemporary needs of Western Australians has been a major priority of the
government since we came into office in 2008. There have been two comprehensive
stages of planning reform, with many aspects to it. One of the more recent
aspects was the introduction of new planning and development local planning
scheme regulations, which were gazetted in August of this year. That has been a
major project within the Department of Planning involving a lot of stakeholder
and public consultation to finalise. These regulations control the content of
local planning schemes and planning processes. The new regulations will ensure
more consistency across all local government planning schemes in Western
Australia, and will be easier to use. Whereas it was the case previously that
approval of a development in one local government may not require the same sort
of approval in another local government, there will now be a consistent
approach. For example, when developments are compliant with the R-codes, they
will not need planning approval. Therefore, any extensions, granny flats,
carports, patios and so on, as well as new businesses, that are exempt from a
planning approval will not need approval when they are being converted to a
permitted use. All this certainly will save time and money. Apart from the
about $500 development application fee generally, there is also the saving in
costs from the up to 60 days for approval to be given. That is one of the major
changes that has been brought about that has a very practical effect for
homeowners, developers, builders, and indeed local governments in Western
Australia.
Another example, as supported by the Housing Industry
Association, is that land holding costs are being reduced by the fact that up
to eight weeks can be taken off the time that it takes for approval to be given
for the construction of a home. As $750 to $1 000 a week is the estimated
saving on a typical home, this adds up to $8 000 potentially coming off the
cost of building a new home. The focus that the government has had on reducing
red tape and making the system more effective, efficient and responsive to current
needs is having a very tangible effect for the construction industry and for
homeowners in WA.
before, making our planning and approval system more efficient and relevant to
contemporary needs of Western Australians has been a major priority of the
government since we came into office in 2008. There have been two comprehensive
stages of planning reform, with many aspects to it. One of the more recent
aspects was the introduction of new planning and development local planning
scheme regulations, which were gazetted in August of this year. That has been a
major project within the Department of Planning involving a lot of stakeholder
and public consultation to finalise. These regulations control the content of
local planning schemes and planning processes. The new regulations will ensure
more consistency across all local government planning schemes in Western
Australia, and will be easier to use. Whereas it was the case previously that
approval of a development in one local government may not require the same sort
of approval in another local government, there will now be a consistent
approach. For example, when developments are compliant with the R-codes, they
will not need planning approval. Therefore, any extensions, granny flats,
carports, patios and so on, as well as new businesses, that are exempt from a
planning approval will not need approval when they are being converted to a
permitted use. All this certainly will save time and money. Apart from the
about $500 development application fee generally, there is also the saving in
costs from the up to 60 days for approval to be given. That is one of the major
changes that has been brought about that has a very practical effect for
homeowners, developers, builders, and indeed local governments in Western
Australia.
Another example, as supported by the Housing Industry
Association, is that land holding costs are being reduced by the fact that up
to eight weeks can be taken off the time that it takes for approval to be given
for the construction of a home. As $750 to $1 000 a week is the estimated
saving on a typical home, this adds up to $8 000 potentially coming off the
cost of building a new home. The focus that the government has had on reducing
red tape and making the system more effective, efficient and responsive to current
needs is having a very tangible effect for the construction industry and for
homeowners in WA.
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