❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses the government's policy and involvement in ensuring the use of native flora in new housing developments and public spaces, particularly in Ellenbrook. The response indicates that while there isn't a specific state policy, local governments are primarily responsible, with the WAPC advocating for native species and water-sensitive design.
AnsweredQoN 6305Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to new housing developments in Western Australia and I ask:
(a) does the Government have any policy for new estates to ensure native flora is used for landscaping in new developments;
(i) if not why not; and
(ii) if yes, will you table a copy of the policy;
(b) does the Government have any involvement in ensuring developers use native flora;
(i) if not why not; and
(ii) if yes, please outline;
(c) has the Government taken any action to ensure native vegetation or waterwise plants are used in public spaces in Ellenbrook?
(a) does the Government have any policy for new estates to ensure native flora is used for landscaping in new developments;
(i) if not why not; and
(ii) if yes, will you table a copy of the policy;
(b) does the Government have any involvement in ensuring developers use native flora;
(i) if not why not; and
(ii) if yes, please outline;
(c) has the Government taken any action to ensure native vegetation or waterwise plants are used in public spaces in Ellenbrook?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Planning
Response time
35 days
(a)(i-ii) The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) does not have a specific State Planning Policy on the use of native vegetation in landscapes for new estates. Local Governments may have policies or guidelines supporting the use of native flora in new developments; the choice of species used in landscaping in such developments is generally made at a local planning level by the local government as the relevant planning authority.
However, the WAPC generally advocates use of local native species as outlined in guidance document
Visual Landscape Planning in Western Australia: a manual for evaluation, siting and design
(Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) 2007) pg 93:
·
"Use of local species in open space, especially where they already exist, will provide visual links with the original landscape character.
·
The use of suitable local native trees and shrubs in public spaces including parks, and rail and reserves, may help to emphasise a landscape's individual character. Consideration should be given to a variety of local plants.
·
Visually complementary plant species should be used in median strips and verge planting, rather than species that contrast in form and colour (eg pines, roses, palms) unless these are valued for heritage or cultural reasons
."
The WAPC and the Department of Planning support the incorporation of better urban water management and water sensitive urban design into landscaping.
State Planning Policy 2.9: Water resources
(WAPC 2006) promotes the retention and use of local native vegetation in developments to minimise water use and maximise filtration, particularly where landscaping is proposed. This is also supported by the
Liveable Neighbourhoods
operational policy(WAPC 2007) and the
Better Urban Water Management document
(WAPC 2008).
There may be specific instances where the State may wish to prescribe the use of local native plants. This would generally be the case where the surrounding landscape is of natural conservation value and protection of biodiversity values is a high priority, for example locations adjoining a national park, nature reserve or a Bush Forever area, often as a condition of subdivision where appropriate.
State Planning Policy 2.8: Bushland policy for the Perth Metropolitan Region
(WAPC 2010), advocates the protection, enhancement and creation of ecological linkages between areas of regional and local biodiversity.
(ii)
Visual Landscape Planning in Western Australia: a manual for evaluation, siting and design
(WAPC 2007) is a publicly available document and can be viewed at
http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/publications/1205.asp
.
(b)(i-ii) The relevant planning authority is responsible for the clearing of any conditions placed on a planning approval for which it has requested. For example, if the local government were to place a native species landscape condition on a planning approval, the respective local government would be responsible for clearing the condition once the proponent had adequately demonstrated that the condition had been met.
(c) No. The WAPC has not put specific native vegetation landscape conditions on the subdivision applications approved in regard to Ellenbrook as this is considered a predominantly local government matter. The City of Swan (the City) has landscape guidelines for developers which promote the use of water wise and native vegetation within landscaped areas. However, a significant number of planning approvals for Ellenbrook were approved prior to the City's adoption of these landscape guidelines. For any new development in the Ellenbrook area, the City recommends these landscape guidelines be used by developers.
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However, the WAPC generally advocates use of local native species as outlined in guidance document
Visual Landscape Planning in Western Australia: a manual for evaluation, siting and design
(Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) 2007) pg 93:
·
"Use of local species in open space, especially where they already exist, will provide visual links with the original landscape character.
·
The use of suitable local native trees and shrubs in public spaces including parks, and rail and reserves, may help to emphasise a landscape's individual character. Consideration should be given to a variety of local plants.
·
Visually complementary plant species should be used in median strips and verge planting, rather than species that contrast in form and colour (eg pines, roses, palms) unless these are valued for heritage or cultural reasons
."
The WAPC and the Department of Planning support the incorporation of better urban water management and water sensitive urban design into landscaping.
State Planning Policy 2.9: Water resources
(WAPC 2006) promotes the retention and use of local native vegetation in developments to minimise water use and maximise filtration, particularly where landscaping is proposed. This is also supported by the
Liveable Neighbourhoods
operational policy(WAPC 2007) and the
Better Urban Water Management document
(WAPC 2008).
There may be specific instances where the State may wish to prescribe the use of local native plants. This would generally be the case where the surrounding landscape is of natural conservation value and protection of biodiversity values is a high priority, for example locations adjoining a national park, nature reserve or a Bush Forever area, often as a condition of subdivision where appropriate.
State Planning Policy 2.8: Bushland policy for the Perth Metropolitan Region
(WAPC 2010), advocates the protection, enhancement and creation of ecological linkages between areas of regional and local biodiversity.
(ii)
Visual Landscape Planning in Western Australia: a manual for evaluation, siting and design
(WAPC 2007) is a publicly available document and can be viewed at
http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/publications/1205.asp
.
(b)(i-ii) The relevant planning authority is responsible for the clearing of any conditions placed on a planning approval for which it has requested. For example, if the local government were to place a native species landscape condition on a planning approval, the respective local government would be responsible for clearing the condition once the proponent had adequately demonstrated that the condition had been met.
(c) No. The WAPC has not put specific native vegetation landscape conditions on the subdivision applications approved in regard to Ellenbrook as this is considered a predominantly local government matter. The City of Swan (the City) has landscape guidelines for developers which promote the use of water wise and native vegetation within landscaped areas. However, a significant number of planning approvals for Ellenbrook were approved prior to the City's adoption of these landscape guidelines. For any new development in the Ellenbrook area, the City recommends these landscape guidelines be used by developers.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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