❓ The Minister for Planning updates the house on the government's long-term plan for the Swan Valley, including new legislation to protect its character and agricultural land, and the construction of the Perth-Darwin highway to improve amenity and boost tourism.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN
VALLEY — LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
97. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Planning:
I am aware that the minister
recently announced new plans for land use in the Swan Valley. Could he please
update the house on the Liberal–National government's
long-term, viable plan for this region?
VALLEY — LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
97. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Planning:
I am aware that the minister
recently announced new plans for land use in the Swan Valley. Could he please
update the house on the Liberal–National government's
long-term, viable plan for this region?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
He has part of the Swan Valley area in his electorate, and I acknowledge that the
member for West Swan does as well. I think all members would agree that the
Swan Valley region is an enormously important asset to the Perth metropolitan
area and to Western Australia. That is from a number of perspectives.
Historically, it takes into account Aboriginal history and also post–European
settlement history; the very significant heritage aspects of the Swan Valley;
the contribution it makes to the economy of Western Australia, considering the
agricultural production, and viticulture in particular; and also the
significant amount of tourism activity in the Swan Valley. It is worth noting
that wine production in the Swan Valley commenced 180 years ago, not long after
European settlement in Western Australia.
Over the last couple of years, the government
has undertaken a review of planning arrangements for the Swan Valley. A
discussion paper was put out towards the end of 2012, and in response to the
comments and submissions, the Department of Planning prepared the document ''The
Way Forward: Swan Valley Land Use and Management: Report on Submissions and
Recommendations'', and has made various recommendations to the
government, all of which have been supported.
It is also worth putting into context the Swan Valley
Planning Act, which was passed by this Parliament and introduced about 20 years
ago when the previous coalition government was in office. That was in response
to pressure for quite a substantial amount of urbanisation in the area at the
time. The Swan Valley Planning Act has been effective in preventing much in the
way of subdivision in the Swan Valley, which it was intended to do, but more
needs to be done to protect the important character and aesthetics of the Swan
Valley by better controlling the types of developments that are occurring, and
also the appearance and the aesthetics of some of those developments and,
indeed, some of the signage arrangements.
The government will put a new planning framework in place. We
will draft new legislation this year, based on the character preservation acts
in South Australia, which provide protection to the Barossa Valley and the
McLaren Vale regions. It is intended to be introduced next year. Under our new
planning arrangements, all development applications will be required to
demonstrate how they complement the area's distinct semirural and
agricultural character. There will be stronger guidelines on the location and
design of new developments, and productive agricultural land will be protected
from subdivision in the future.
Another important change is occurring in the Swan Valley as a
result of funding being provided by the state and federal governments; that is,
the construction of the new Perth–Darwin highway, which will take
approximately 2 000 heavy vehicles off Great Northern Highway, that important
arterial route that runs right through the Swan Valley and causes a large
amount of congestion and reduction in the amenity and appreciation of the other
important values of the Swan Valley. When that project is completed in 2019, it
will be an enormous boost to tourism and agricultural development, viticulture
in particular, in the Swan Valley.
The region hosts about 600 000 visitors a year. It is very
important to the Perth metropolitan area, and more widely to the state, from
the point of view of both agricultural production and tourism, and we intend to
ensure that it is even better protected in the future.
He has part of the Swan Valley area in his electorate, and I acknowledge that the
member for West Swan does as well. I think all members would agree that the
Swan Valley region is an enormously important asset to the Perth metropolitan
area and to Western Australia. That is from a number of perspectives.
Historically, it takes into account Aboriginal history and also post–European
settlement history; the very significant heritage aspects of the Swan Valley;
the contribution it makes to the economy of Western Australia, considering the
agricultural production, and viticulture in particular; and also the
significant amount of tourism activity in the Swan Valley. It is worth noting
that wine production in the Swan Valley commenced 180 years ago, not long after
European settlement in Western Australia.
Over the last couple of years, the government
has undertaken a review of planning arrangements for the Swan Valley. A
discussion paper was put out towards the end of 2012, and in response to the
comments and submissions, the Department of Planning prepared the document ''The
Way Forward: Swan Valley Land Use and Management: Report on Submissions and
Recommendations'', and has made various recommendations to the
government, all of which have been supported.
It is also worth putting into context the Swan Valley
Planning Act, which was passed by this Parliament and introduced about 20 years
ago when the previous coalition government was in office. That was in response
to pressure for quite a substantial amount of urbanisation in the area at the
time. The Swan Valley Planning Act has been effective in preventing much in the
way of subdivision in the Swan Valley, which it was intended to do, but more
needs to be done to protect the important character and aesthetics of the Swan
Valley by better controlling the types of developments that are occurring, and
also the appearance and the aesthetics of some of those developments and,
indeed, some of the signage arrangements.
The government will put a new planning framework in place. We
will draft new legislation this year, based on the character preservation acts
in South Australia, which provide protection to the Barossa Valley and the
McLaren Vale regions. It is intended to be introduced next year. Under our new
planning arrangements, all development applications will be required to
demonstrate how they complement the area's distinct semirural and
agricultural character. There will be stronger guidelines on the location and
design of new developments, and productive agricultural land will be protected
from subdivision in the future.
Another important change is occurring in the Swan Valley as a
result of funding being provided by the state and federal governments; that is,
the construction of the new Perth–Darwin highway, which will take
approximately 2 000 heavy vehicles off Great Northern Highway, that important
arterial route that runs right through the Swan Valley and causes a large
amount of congestion and reduction in the amenity and appreciation of the other
important values of the Swan Valley. When that project is completed in 2019, it
will be an enormous boost to tourism and agricultural development, viticulture
in particular, in the Swan Valley.
The region hosts about 600 000 visitors a year. It is very
important to the Perth metropolitan area, and more widely to the state, from
the point of view of both agricultural production and tourism, and we intend to
ensure that it is even better protected in the future.
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