Busselton Approves Land Use Definition Changes
The City of Busselton approved changes to its local planning scheme, impacting land use definitions and what's permissible on certain properties. This comes as Cockburn approves zoning changes and Swan adjusts its rating system.
What happened
Recent entries in the WA Government Gazette reveal that the City of Busselton has approved Amendment No. 61 to its Local Planning Scheme No. 21, altering land use definitions and permissibility within the municipality. Separately, the City of Cockburn has also had an amendment approved, impacting zoning regulations and updating the scheme map legend. The City of Swan will now use gross rental value as the basis for rates on specified land. These changes were formally announced via the Government Gazette, the official record of WA government decisions.
What this means for you
If you own property in Busselton, the changes to land use definitions could impact what you can do with your land. For example, if you were considering building a granny flat or operating a home business, the revised scheme will determine whether that's permissible. In Cockburn, the rezoning of certain lots could affect property values and future development opportunities. If you own property in Swan, the shift to gross rental value (GRV) for calculating rates means your rates could increase or decrease depending on your property's rental potential. The changes to GRV are similar to recent moves by Wanneroo, Armadale, Chittering, and Serpentine Jarrahdale.
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What this means for WA
These concurrent changes across multiple local councils signal a broader trend in Western Australia towards updating planning schemes and rating systems to reflect current economic and social conditions. These changes give local councils more control over development and revenue collection. The Cook Labor Government, with its majority in both houses, oversees these local government decisions, setting a precedent for future adjustments across the state. The shift to GRV in Swan follows similar moves by other councils, suggesting a potential statewide evaluation of rating methodologies.
The numbers
The City of Swan's decision to use gross rental value (GRV) is based on Section 6.28 (1) of the Local Government Act. The City of Busselton's planning scheme amendment is officially titled "Local Planning Scheme No. 21 Amendment No. 61". These changes to land use definitions and zoning could affect property values in Busselton and Cockburn. The "Amendment to RWWA Rules of Thoroughbred Racing 2019", also published in the Gazette, takes effect on 1 June 2026, demonstrating the breadth of regulatory updates tracked by the Gazette.
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