The WA Government has opened consultation on proposed reforms to the State’s Planning and Development Amendment Regulations 2025.
These Amendment Regulations will initiate clearer guidance for the review of State planning instruments such as State Planning Policies, Region Schemes and Planning Codes to ensure they remain contemporary and responsive to evolving community needs, said WA Planning and Lands Minister, John Carey.
“The review of State and local planning instruments aims to ensure planning frameworks are efficient, streamlined and are best placed to support Western Australia’s growing population,” Mr Carey said.
“This review is part of the Cook Government’s broader reform agenda to increase housing supply by slashing red tape in the planning system and I encourage people to have their say.”
Further guidance for the review of local planning instruments is also captured, as well as key improvements to local planning policies, such as clarifying its purpose, introducing manner and form requirements, and the requirement for five-yearly reviews to maintain modern planning frameworks and removing any unnecessary red tape at the local level, the Minister said.
The Amendment Regulations (Part 2-Part 6) propose various changes to the following sets of regulations:
- Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (LPS Regulations);
- Planning and Development (Planning Codes) Regulations 2024 (PC Regulations);
- Planning and Development (Region Planning Schemes) Regulations 2023 (RPS Regulations);
- Planning and Development Regulations 2009 (PD Regulations);
- Planning and Development (State Planning Policies) Regulations 2024 (SPP Regulations).
Comment is being sought specifically on Part 2 of the Amendment Regulations, which seeks to amend the LPS Regulations to:
- facilitate the 10 yearly review of local planning instruments;
- introduce new provisions relating to the manner and form, purpose, duration, review, and extension of local planning policies;
- change existing provisions relating to the revocation of local development plans.
Feedback is also invited on the following draft chapters of the WA Planning Manual that support the 10 yearly review of local planning instruments (local planning schemes and strategies), the preparation and review of local planning policies:
- WA Planning Manual – draft Local Planning Schemes chapter.
- WA Planning Manual – draft Local Planning Policy chapter. The draft local planning policy chapter was previously consulted on from 14 October to 6 December 2024 and has been updated in response to submissions received (where considered appropriate) and to ensure consistency with changes proposed by the Amendment Regulations.
To make a submission, visit https://haveyoursay.dplh.wa.gov.au/review-planning-instruments. Consultation will close 3 October 2025.
