Subdivision approvals

All applications to the WAPC must include a subdivision plan prepared in accordance with WAPC guidelines.

Licensed land surveyors can prepare plans and lodge applications on your behalf.

Note: The City cannot recommend surveyors.

For more information and to apply visit the WAPC website.

The WAPC refers the application to the City and other relevant agencies (e.g. Water Corporation, Main Roads and utility providers).

The City has 42 days to:

• Assess the application;
• Determine its compliance with the City’s Local Planning Scheme and relevant planning framework; and
• Provide a recommendation to the WAPC, including any proposed conditions.

If supported, the WAPC will grant conditional approval. All conditions must be “cleared” before new titles can be created within the approval period.

Approval validity:

• 4 years (more than five lots);
• 3 years (five lots or fewer).

You may request the WAPC to reconsider your subdivision determination, including any conditions of approval, within 28 days of the determination date.

If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, an appeal may be lodged with the State Administrative Tribunal within 28 days of the reconsideration decision.

Most conditions require works such as roads, drainage, earthworks or services.

These must be completed before applying for subdivision clearance. Whether constructing an access leg to a second dwelling at the back of your property or a road serving 20 dwellings, engineering approval is required to ensure that adequate drainage and road surface treatments are provided.

Before new titles can be created, all conditions on the WAPC subdivision approval must be “cleared” by the authority listed next to each condition (e.g. Local Government, Water Corporation, Main Roads).

Subdivision clearance is the process of confirming that those conditions have been met. The City can only clear the conditions assigned to Local Government.

Once all works relating to the City’s conditions are complete, you may apply to the City for subdivision clearance.

See below for what to submit and how to apply.

Once all the relevant authorities (e.g. Water Corporation, Western Power) conditions, including the City’s, are cleared, the WAPC issues final endorsement of the Deposited/Survey-Strata Plan.

After endorsement, lodge the plan with Landgate for new titles to be issued.

If your WAPC approval includes a condition requiring payment of developer contributions: 

• Refer to the City’s Developer Contribution Scheme Rates, or 
• Request a tax invoice by emailing schemecontributionsenquiries@wanneroo.wa.gov.au.

Developer contribution payments must be made before lodging your clearance application.

Supervision fees must be paid prior to lodgement:

• 1.5% of all roadworks and drainage works
• When calculating the 1.5% supervision fee, include 15% of the total contract earthworks sum.

Before applying for clearance, contact the City’s Land Development team to arrange an onsite Practical Completion Inspection via email, unless a bond for outstanding works has been accepted.

A copy of the PCI report will be issued to the developer/engineer.

If bonding is permitted for outstanding works:

• Submit a Subdivision Bond Application (original signature required)
• Bonding must be lodged before submitting the clearance application.

The City will not accept bonds for works on private land (e.g. retaining walls, fencing, battleaxe legs, revegetation).

Subdivision Bond Application Form (PDF) Subdivision Bond Refund Form [PDF]

Where required, geotechnical reports must be prepared and certified by a suitably qualified professional and submitted to the City’s Land Development team before applying for clearance.

If your subdivision conditions require legal documentation to be executed, such as an easement, caveat, restrictive covenant, deed of agreement, or Section 70A Notification, please submit the following documentation to approvals@wanneroo.wa.gov.au:

• Cover letter.
• A copy of the subdivision approval.
• A copy of the documents for execution.
• A copy of the proposed Deposited/Survey-Strata Plan.

Please ensure all required documentation is submitted before lodging your clearance application.

For conditions relating to sewage treatment systems:

• Determine whether an on-site sewage treatment system exists or previously existed.
• If City records show no system was ever installed, provide a written statement confirming this (noting you must also confirm no unapproved systems are present).
• If a system exists and is to remain:
  • Submit a scale plan (1:100) showing the exact location of all components, boundaries and structures.
  • Ensure required setbacks are met (contact the City’s Environmental Health team for advice).
• If a system is still in place but is to be decommissioned:
  • Submit a Certificate of Decommissioning before lodging the clearance application.
• If a system was previously decommissioned without a Certificate:
  • Provide a Statutory Declaration confirming all reasonable efforts have been made to locate the system and confirming it is no longer in situ.