In a dramatic move to address Western Australia's housing shortage, Planning Minister John Carey will unveil sweeping reforms that strip local councils of their planning powers around key train stations, paving the way for up to 35,000 new apartments across Perth.
State Takes Control of Station Precincts
The Cook Government will on Sunday announce its plan to accelerate high-density housing within 800 metres of 10 strategically chosen train stations. The affected suburbs include affluent areas like Cottesloe and Swanbourne, alongside Ballajura, Bassendean, Mosman Park, Oats Street, Claisebrook, Glendalough, Morley and Redcliffe.
Under the new system, the WA Planning Commission will become the ultimate authority for development approvals in these precincts, replacing local council planning schemes. While councils can still make submissions on proposed projects, the commission will act as both judge and jury.
"Whereas local government schemes would set the frameworks and heights for development and so forth, the planning commission's Improvement Scheme will now replace that," Mr Carey confirmed to The Sunday Times.
Addressing Council Resistance to Density
An unapologetic Minister Carey pointed to council hesitation regarding high-rise developments as the driving force behind the state's intervention. He specifically criticised the Cottesloe council for lacking ambition in density planning around its train station.
"The Cottesloe council has not been ambitious enough in relation to the density that could occur at the train station," Mr Carey stated. He highlighted that zoning in the Cottesloe station precinct currently sits as low as R12.5, permitting only two-storey buildings - among the lowest urban density levels allowed.
Similarly, the Swanbourne precinct faces planning complications with three different local government areas involved and planning schemes that are over a decade old, with Claremont's scheme dating back 26 years.
"While some local governments have taken steps to update planning frameworks around train stations, progress has been slow, and in many cases, density settings are far too low," Mr Carey explained.
Transit-Oriented Development Push
The state government has long championed train station precincts as ideal locations for concentrated housing development, particularly with the expansion of Metronet. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti emphasised that these reforms align with the government's transit-oriented development strategy.
"These reforms will help streamline approvals and improve consistency," Ms Saffioti said. "More housing choice around our train-station precincts will be critical to supporting our city as it grows, and implementing these improvement plans will ensure we expedite the delivery of new developments for the benefit of the community."
The concept has received support from unexpected quarters, with former WA Property Council chief executive and now Liberal member for Cottesloe, Sandra Brewer, previously advocating for transit-oriented development around stations like Cottesloe.
Controversy and Housing Reality
Minister Carey openly acknowledges the controversial nature of these reforms, expecting significant local opposition. However, he maintains that the housing crisis demands bold action.
"I expect there will be local opposition," he conceded. "But this is the serious truth we are grappling with. We are seeing younger generations locked out of housing in many high-amenity areas and people don't have the ability to downsize in the area they own a house."
Ballajura, Redcliffe and Cottesloe have been identified as top priority areas for immediate action. The government selected these 10 initial precincts based on market readiness and existing infrastructure capacity to support additional residents.
Mr Carey defended the WA Planning Commission's role as an "independent decision-making body" that conducts itself with "high levels of integrity" and transparency.
While consultation with local governments will occur for precinct-specific planning, the minister made it clear that the state will have the final say in delivering the housing Perth desperately needs.
