❓ Mr. Abetz asks about the state planning strategy and its implications for WA's growth. Minister Day responds, highlighting population growth forecasts and the need for urban consolidation, while also refuting claims about Perth's expansion.
AnsweredQoN 475Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE PLANNING STRATEGY
475. Mr P. ABETZ to the Minister for
Planning:
I am aware that the minister
recently released a planning strategy that identifies the level of growth in
the state over the next 35 years. Can the minister please update the house on
the strategy and what it tells us about how the state will grow over this time?
475. Mr P. ABETZ to the Minister for
Planning:
I am aware that the minister
recently released a planning strategy that identifies the level of growth in
the state over the next 35 years. Can the minister please update the house on
the strategy and what it tells us about how the state will grow over this time?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for West Swan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The question refers to a very important document within the
state's planning system that has recently been revised and put out for
public information in the last week or so. It is actually a requirement of the
planning —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : It is a requirement of the Planning and
Development Act that we have a state planning strategy and that it be reviewed
every five years. A state planning strategy was agreed and finalised, and put
out in 1997, which just happened to be in the time of the previous coalition
government. As I said, it was meant to be reviewed every five years—therefore,
in 2002; but between 2002 and 2008 there was little or no action in reviewing
the state planning strategy, which just happened to coincide with Labor in
office. However, the Liberal–National government came to office in
2008. I and this government have been keen to ensure that we have up-to-date
planning strategies and frameworks to appropriately face the economic and
population growth pressures in Western Australia. It is an important document
that is available on the Department of Planning website.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I recommend that members and everybody with
a serious interest in planning for the future of the state, which obviously
excludes the Leader of the Opposition, look at what is contained within it. One
of the forecasts and assumptions contained within this document is that the
population is expected to approximately double over the next 40 years from the
current 2.5 million up to between 4.6 million and 5.6 million—an
increase of around 100 per cent over that time. Obviously, accommodating that
growth of population in an affordable way is important. We expect there will be
a continuation of growth, with approximately three-quarters of the Western
Australian population accommodated within the Perth metropolitan area and so it
is necessary that we have appropriate planning schemes, strategies, policies
and legislation to ensure that that can occur in an affordable way and without
having excessive urban sprawl. I draw attention, for example, to page 95 of the ''State Planning Strategy'' , which states —
Urban
consolidation that provides a higher density and mix of housing styles and
types around public spaces and transport corridors can generate economies of
scale for affordable living.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I am delighted that the Leader of the
Opposition just referred to Lancelin to Bunbury, because he is drawing upon a
comment that was made in his online session for The West Australian in response to a correspondent or caller named
Chris. I do not know whether this was a serious call or a dorothy dixer, but it
was claimed that I said the other day that I expected Perth to eventually
stretch from Lancelin to Bunbury as one conurbation. I would like it to be
understood and placed on the public record that I have never said anything of
that nature at all. I have never thought that would be the case. It is not my
expectation.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, you are on three calls—not two but
three—so I would not shout out if I were you.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I certainly do not expect there will be one
conurbation between Lancelin and Bunbury. The extent of the very large degree
of urban development that we have in the Perth metropolitan area at the moment
is largely between Yanchep and Mandurah, and that is extending eastwards to
Mundaring, Byford, Armadale and so on. It is necessary that we have appropriate
planning policies to ensure that we do not have an excessive reliance on
peripheral urban development. We need much more urban consolidation and infill
projects and higher density developments in appropriate areas, such as around
public transport routes, train stations and so on. I think there is bipartisan
support for that approach between the government and opposition. It is not a
new concept. It has been developing now for well over 15 years or so, and
certainly I have been saying it in the almost six years that I have been
Minister for Planning. The government has policies in place; for instance, ''Directions
2031: Draft Spatial Framework for Perth and Peel'' and legislation to ensure that we can have a
greater focus on growth occurring in those areas.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for West Swan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The question refers to a very important document within the
state's planning system that has recently been revised and put out for
public information in the last week or so. It is actually a requirement of the
planning —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : It is a requirement of the Planning and
Development Act that we have a state planning strategy and that it be reviewed
every five years. A state planning strategy was agreed and finalised, and put
out in 1997, which just happened to be in the time of the previous coalition
government. As I said, it was meant to be reviewed every five years—therefore,
in 2002; but between 2002 and 2008 there was little or no action in reviewing
the state planning strategy, which just happened to coincide with Labor in
office. However, the Liberal–National government came to office in
2008. I and this government have been keen to ensure that we have up-to-date
planning strategies and frameworks to appropriately face the economic and
population growth pressures in Western Australia. It is an important document
that is available on the Department of Planning website.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I recommend that members and everybody with
a serious interest in planning for the future of the state, which obviously
excludes the Leader of the Opposition, look at what is contained within it. One
of the forecasts and assumptions contained within this document is that the
population is expected to approximately double over the next 40 years from the
current 2.5 million up to between 4.6 million and 5.6 million—an
increase of around 100 per cent over that time. Obviously, accommodating that
growth of population in an affordable way is important. We expect there will be
a continuation of growth, with approximately three-quarters of the Western
Australian population accommodated within the Perth metropolitan area and so it
is necessary that we have appropriate planning schemes, strategies, policies
and legislation to ensure that that can occur in an affordable way and without
having excessive urban sprawl. I draw attention, for example, to page 95 of the ''State Planning Strategy'' , which states —
Urban
consolidation that provides a higher density and mix of housing styles and
types around public spaces and transport corridors can generate economies of
scale for affordable living.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I am delighted that the Leader of the
Opposition just referred to Lancelin to Bunbury, because he is drawing upon a
comment that was made in his online session for The West Australian in response to a correspondent or caller named
Chris. I do not know whether this was a serious call or a dorothy dixer, but it
was claimed that I said the other day that I expected Perth to eventually
stretch from Lancelin to Bunbury as one conurbation. I would like it to be
understood and placed on the public record that I have never said anything of
that nature at all. I have never thought that would be the case. It is not my
expectation.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, you are on three calls—not two but
three—so I would not shout out if I were you.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I certainly do not expect there will be one
conurbation between Lancelin and Bunbury. The extent of the very large degree
of urban development that we have in the Perth metropolitan area at the moment
is largely between Yanchep and Mandurah, and that is extending eastwards to
Mundaring, Byford, Armadale and so on. It is necessary that we have appropriate
planning policies to ensure that we do not have an excessive reliance on
peripheral urban development. We need much more urban consolidation and infill
projects and higher density developments in appropriate areas, such as around
public transport routes, train stations and so on. I think there is bipartisan
support for that approach between the government and opposition. It is not a
new concept. It has been developing now for well over 15 years or so, and
certainly I have been saying it in the almost six years that I have been
Minister for Planning. The government has policies in place; for instance, ''Directions
2031: Draft Spatial Framework for Perth and Peel'' and legislation to ensure that we can have a
greater focus on growth occurring in those areas.
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