The City of Wanneroo Council recently adopted Local Planning Policy 3.1 Local Housing Strategy Implementation . Below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions regarding the Policy.

1. What is the Local Housing Strategy (2005)?
2. What is the Local Planning Policy 3.1: Local Housing Strategy Implementation?
3. Where can I read the adopted Policy?
4. How can I tell if my property has been identified for an increase in R-Coding by the Policy?
5. My property is outside the areas identified for increases in R-Coding in the Policy. Can I still seek an increase in R-Coding of my property?
6. What is housing density and R-Coding?
7. How are changes made to the R-Coding of an area?
8. When will my area have its R-Code changed?
9. Can I apply to have the R-Code of my property changed ahead of the City doing this as part of its program for implementation of the Policy?
10. Will I have further opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the R-Codes?
11. When will I be able to develop my property using the proposed new R-Codes?
12. Do I have to develop or subdivide my lot once it is recoded?

 1. What is the Local Housing Strategy (2005)?

The Local Housing Strategy, adopted by Council in November 2005, is a Strategy to meet the future housing needs within the City of Wanneroo.

It is specifically aimed at guiding future housing development in new residential areas; protecting existing residential areas from inappropriate development and ensuring adequate housing choice is available to meet the changing social and economic needs of the community.

The Strategy places emphasis on increasing residential density and housing choice in residential areas that are supported by existing and planned neighbourhood and town centres.

The Local Housing Strategy (2005) can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

Local Housing Strategy (2005).PDF (2.1MB)

 2. What is Local Planning Policy 3.1: Local Housing Implementation?

Local Planning Policy 3.1: Local Housing Strategy Implementation (the Policy) provides a framework for implementing the City of Wanneroo Local Housing Strategy (2005).

The Policy identifies six Housing Precincts, divided across the suburbs of Wanneroo, Koondoola, Girrawheen, Yanchep, Two Rocks (two precincts). The Policy outlines the approach to be taken in implementing the proposed density increases, including the planning requirements to be addressed and the extent of each housing precinct.

The Policy was adopted at the 6th April 2010 Council Meeting and then subsequently amended at the 5 April Council meeting.

3. Where can I read the Policy?

The final Policy with 5 April 2011 amendment can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

Local Planning Policy 3.1: Local Housing Strategy Implementation .PDF (4MB)
Link to 5 th April 2011 Council Meeting Agenda
Link to 5th April 2011Council Meeting Minutes

4. How can I tell if my property has been identified for an increase in R-Coding by the Policy?

Included in the Policy are seven maps identifying the properties in the six Housing Precincts that will see increases in R-Coding. Refer to these maps to see whether or not your property has been included.

Alternatively, you can click on the City of Wanneroo Online Zoning/Maps link on the home page of this website. When this has opened, select the 'Planning Scheme' Module and click on the 'Housing Strategy' Layer. You should now be able to navigate the map on your screen and see the properties affected by the Policy.

5. My property is outside the areas identified for increases in R-Coding in the Policy. Can I still seek an increase in R-Coding of my property?

The policy sets out the way that the City of Wanneroo will deal with recoding requests in areas outside of the housing precincts. The way that such requests will be dealt with will depend on whether the area concerned is currently the subject of an approved Structure Plan under the scheme, or not.

6. What is housing density and R-Coding?

Housing density refers to the number of houses or dwellings per block of land. In Western Australia, the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) provide a guide to the allowable maximum density of residential development.

State Planning Policy 3.1: Residential Design Codes controls the allowable density and the design of residential developments. This State Planning Policy can be viewed on the Western Australian Planning Commission's (WAPC) website: www.planning.wa.gov.au .

*The development potential of individual properties is also influenced by factors such as whether an existing house is retained or not, whether the proposed development is for a "battle-axe" subdivision, a strata development or multiple dwellings and is subject to approval by the WAPC.

7. How are changes made to the R-Coding of an area?

In the case of the Housing Precincts designated under the Policy, changes are made to the R-Coding of an area through an amendment to the City's District Planning Scheme No.2 (the Scheme). The Scheme describes the zoning of land within the City of Wanneroo and specifies where particular land uses are permitted. It also sets standards for development. The flowchart below summarises the Scheme amendment process:

In the case of areas that are the subject of approved Structure Plans under the Scheme, it is the relevant Structure Plan that designates the R-Coding applying to each area.

A proposed change to the R-Coding of such areas involves an amendment of the relevant Structure Plan. The amendment process is as follows:

APPROXIMATELY 1-YEAR PROCESS
1. Council resolves that the Structure Plan amendment is satisfactory
2. Advertise amendment for submissions
3. Council considers submissions and adopts or refuses amendment
4. Amendment, Council decision and report on submissions are sent to the WAPC
5. WAPC adopts or refuses amendment
6. Amendment in effect if both Council and WAPC adopt it

8. When will my area have its R-Code changed?

Due to the large number of properties identified under the Policy as suitable for increased density, it is not practical to implement increases for all the Housing Precincts simultaneously. The Policy provides Council with the opportunity to determine priority areas for implementation. The priorities for implementation in the Policy have been determined on strategic importance - that is, the location of the precinct in relation to local facilities, the number of potential dwellings that may result from recoding and the condition of existing housing stock.

The order of priority appears in the "Priority for Implementation" column in the Implementation Table of the Policy. While Wanneroo is identified as Priority 1, City Administration is currently undertaking further detailed studies of this precinct, and considering the Koondoola and Girrawheen precincts. These studies are intended to lead to the commencement of the Scheme amendment process (see question 8 above), which may take approximately 2 years.

9. Can I apply to have the R-Code of my property changed ahead of the City doing this as part of its program for implementation of the Policy?

The priority areas for implementation contained in the Policy are priorities for Administration to progress on a sequential basis, as resources permit. These priorities do not prevent landowners or developers from submitting recoding proposals. However, this would need to be done for an entire Housing Precinct and would need to address all relevant planning requirements.

10. Will I have further opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the R-Codes?

Yes, there will be an opportunity for further comments to be made during the advertising period of the Scheme amendment process (see step 6 in the Flowchart). The City will undertake advertising of an amendment to the Scheme for a period of 42 days by way of advertising in the local newspaper, sending notices to landowners affected by the proposal, placing signs on site of the proposal and displaying on the City's website.

11. When will I be able to develop my property using the proposed new R-Codes?

As set out in the Policy, properties can only be developed using the proposed new R-Codes when an amendment for a Housing Precinct is gazetted (see step 9 in the Flowchart). Until then, subdivision and development has to comply with existing R-Codes and other standards and requirements as set out in the Scheme.

12. Do I have to develop or subdivide my lot once it is recoded?

No. The recoding of land does not mean that a landowner must subdivide or develop, but it may provide the opportunity to do so if the landowner wishes to.