Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 927

❓ Opposition MP questions the source and accuracy of a 35,000 homes figure associated with the government's station precinct development plan. The government confirms the figure is an estimate based on long-term potential and strategic planning practices.

AnsweredQoN 927Legislative Council

Asked

20 November 2025

Member

Hon Steve Martin

Portfolio

Planning and Lands; Housing and Works; Health Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the two-page spread in The West Australian on 16 November 2025 on pages 8-9, featuring an article and analysis by Joe Spagnolo announcing the State Government's plans to establish 10 station precincts for higher density housing in an 800 metre radius around train station sites. I note that the article says, "the State Government believes the 10 train-station precincts could accommodate an additional 35,000 homes", and I also note that the Western Australian Government Media Release distributed later that day did not mention the 35,000 homes figure, and that the Facebook posts from the same day by the Minister and the Deputy Premier also did not mention the figure, and I ask: (a) can the Minister confirm that the 35,000 homes figure was provided by the Minister or the Minister's Office to Mr Spagnolo; (b) if no to (a), can the Minister confirm whether this figure was provided by the State Government to Mr Spagnolo; (c) if no to (a) and (b), can the Minister confirm whether this 35,000 figure - acknowledging the caveat in the article that the precincts "could accommodate" - is accurate; and (d) if the 35,000 figure cannot be confirmed by the Minister, is the Minister able to put another figure on what the 10 locations could collectively accommodate (that being the nominated sites of Ballajura, Bassendean, Carlisle/Oats Street, Claisebrook, Cottesloe, Glendalough, Morley, Mosman Park, Redcliffe, and Swanbourne)?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

24 February 2026

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Planning and Lands; Housing and Works; Health Infrastructure

Response time

8 days

(a-d) The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage confirms that the precincts could accommodate up to 35,000 homes over the longer term. This is an estimate of how many homes could be built and will be dependent on final built form outcomes. Providing this type of estimate is standard practice in strategic planning to understand the future capacity of different areas. Another example of this is demonstrated in the Perth and Peel @3.5 million land use planning and infrastructure frameworks which were initiated under the former Liberal–National Government. The State Government does not directly build most private housing.
Housing delivery depends on a range of factors, including local planning schemes being kept up to date by local government. Low density controls in local planning schemes continue to dominate many well-located areas of Perth.
This is why the Cook Government has acted decisively to assume planning responsibility for station precincts, ensuring these strategically important areas can meet their full potential.

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