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PIA Congress 2018 – ‘Spotlight’ Article

Precinct Planning - the next leap in Western Australia’s reform process.

As planners, we all strive to foster liveable and beautiful cities and neighbourhoods. To achieve this, it is increasingly apparent our planning frameworks must be flexible, adaptable, and localised.  Historically, Western Australia’s planning system has generally failed to deliver successful precinct planning, a key component in creating successful and liveable urban communities. This is particularly evident in our planning for brownfield and greyfield sites.

How can Precinct Planning can take us from disjointed and generic design and land use to truly active, livable and unique neighbourhoods?

Currently, reform of the Western Australian planning system is placing greater emphasis on strategic and precinct-level planning. A significant shift from past practice, which missed the ‘middle bit’ between neighbourhood layout and building design, it is a recognition our system must continuously evolve and adapt.

The upcoming planning reform, led by Evan Jones RPIA (Fellow), promises to deliver WA a more strategically-aligned system, placing importance on greater community involvement, transparency, and implementing the State Government’s METRONET transit program. It will be important for the reforms recommended by Evan to be followed through by our State and Local Governments, to achieve the best outcomes for our neighbourhoods.

What Planning Policies are being implemented to support Precinct Planning?

Supported by draft State Planning Policy 7 – Design of the Built Environment, the reforms have the potential to deliver vibrant urban neighbourhoods building on local advantages. Part of a suite of new policy documents under the banner of Design WA, SPP7 recognises the benefit of design-driven policy.  It is set to include a Precinct Design Guide in its second stage, building on the greenfields-focused Liveable Neighbourhoods by applying precinct design to infill areas.

Historically hindered by the blunt instruments of the planning framework, we now have the mechanisms in Local Development Plans and Activity Centre Plans to carry out fine-grained precinct-level planning. Progressively being utilised more, and particularly in established urban areas, these instruments can help achieve better urban form and better respond to established local character.  

At Planning Solutions, we are excited to be at the forefront of this reform, including assisting the State Government with producing the Apartment Design Guide.  As one of the largest and most experienced statutory planning consultancies in Western Australia, we know the critical importance of having the right instruments in the planning framework, for delivering great developments. 

Project Feature: Eaton Town Centre Activity Centre Plan

The Eaton Fair Activity Centre Plan was one of the first precinct plans prepared for a regional town following the 2010 publication of State Planning Policy 4.2 Activity Centres for Perth and Peel. The Activity Centre Plan turned a typical regional shopping centre into a thriving mixed-use activity centre, which delivered day- and night-time activity, with immediate benefits including virtually eliminating incidences of vandalism.

Project Feature: Meltham Station Precinct Structure Plan.

The Meltham Station Precinct Structure Plan was one of the first structure plans to be prepared for a station precinct under the Central Sub-Regional Strategy, and was approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission in late 2017. The structure plan will transform the low-rise station precinct into a diverse, compact and walkable community around Meltham Station, just 9 minutes from Perth Station. Prepared in conjunction with Mackay Urban Design, the plan included a set of detailed design guidelines which seek exceptional built form outcomes, respecting the character of the existing neighbourhood, delivering genuine housing diversity, and optimising transit infrastructure. As one of the first of such projects in the network, it is an example of what can be achieved along our heritage transit lines with the new METRONET initiative.

At Planning Solutions, we are excited to be part of the paradigm shift, taking a fine-grained approach to the redevelopment of our suburbs, that is occurring in the Western Australian planning system. We look forward to seeing the city’s fabric evolve to become more vibrant, livable and sustainable.