Learn about the City's framework, plans and strategies that guide projects to create liveable, connected communities and places.
The City engages with the community to ensure framework, plans, and strategies reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents. Projects move through many stages, from community consultations to plans, then to implementation.
Infrastructure and transport
The City coordinates and manages the delivery of strategies and plans to deliver high quality urban, economic and environmentally sustainable development within the City of Stirling.
The City of Stirling's Local Planning Strategy was endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission on 28 October 2019. The Local Planning Strategy sets out the long-term planning directions for the City. In particular it sets out planning objectives, policy statements and recommended actions associated with housing, commercial property, recreation, transport, environmental and heritage issues over the next 10 to 15 years. The Local Planning Strategy demonstrates an integrated approach to planning, including consideration of social, environmental, cultural and economic aspects.
The Local Planning Strategy provides the strategic basis for the current and future Local Planning Schemes, as well as guide and manage future development in the City. It is a statutory document and provides a link between State and regional strategic planning policies and local interests. It also provides the rationale for the zones and provisions in the City’s Local Planning Scheme (The Scheme), which will be the principal mechanism for implementation of the Local Planning Strategy.
If not suitably planned, population growth and increased commercial opportunities could lead to detrimental impacts upon the City and its residents. The Local Planning Strategy provides guidance and direction to ensure coordinated and responsive land use planning across the City and to capitalise on potential growth opportunities.
The City of Stirling is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and sustainable transport environment that supports walking, cycling, and other forms of active mobility.
On 1 July 2025, the City’s Integrated Transport Strategy was replaced with our new Active Transport Principles outlining the City's strategic framework for enhancing active transport infrastructure, promoting community engagement, and advocating for policy improvements.
This comprehensive guide details four core principles supported by targeted actions, including:
- Infrastructure planning and investment
- Education and community outreach
- Data collection and user feedback
- Policy advocacy and inter-agency collaboration.
These principles reflect the City's dedication to improving connectivity, reducing environmental impact, and supporting healthier lifestyles for all residents.
The City of Stirling's Rights of Way Management Strategy was adopted by Council on 10 November 2009 to provide a framework for its approach to the management of private rights of way and dedicated public laneways. Historically, these rights of way and laneways were originally created for the purpose of night carts access for waste removal, however with the advent of modern sewerage disposal systems, they were no longer required for such purposes. With increasing urbanisation, the majority of these rights of way and laneways now have the potential to be used as alternative access to the abutting developments.
The Strategy envisions that all private rights of way (ROWs) with potential for greater public use be constructed and brought under the City's control and management as part of the functional road network.
There are approximately 400 ROWs and dedicated laneways (that were formerly ROWs) totalling nearly 60 kilometres in length within the City of Stirling.
Under the Strategy, the ROWs and dedicated laneways are classified into 5 categories based on certain characteristics:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | High strategic value - Traffic management and commercial |
| Category 2 | Significant strategic value - Potential to reduce negative impacts of infill development |
| Category 3 | Medium strategic value - Heritage/streetscape benefit |
| Category 4 | Low strategic value - Minimal strategic benefit |
| Category 5 | Special constraints |
ROWs and dedicated laneways that have been designated as Category 1, 2 and 3 will be progressively converted to public street status (if they are in private ownership) and be sealed, drained and lit as part of the Development Contribution Plan for Rights of Way Improvement Works. ROWs designated as Category 4 and 5 will eventually be closed and extinguished, or brought under the City's management as unimproved Crown Rights of Way.
To find the designated category of the ROW or laneway abutting your property, please go to Stirling Property Maps on this website, locate you property on the map using the address search, then select the relevant ROW on the map and click on the label "ROW Program" on the menu to the right of the map to display information relating to the selected ROW.
The works program to complete the sealing, drainage and lighting of Category 1, 2 and 3 laneways over a 20 year period commenced in 2013. Indicative schedules for the upgrade works program: (i) ROW Upgrade (construction and lighting installation) and (ii) ROW Lighting Retrofit only (lighting installation), are available for viewing below. The schedules are usually reviewed and adjusted every two years by the City to reflect changes in ROW/laneway characteristics.
Properties abutting laneways in the upgrade works program are subject to the requirements of the Development Contribution Plan for Rights of Way Improvement Works which came into effect on 15 December 2015. Owners are liable to contribute financially to the cost of the upgrade works when they subdivide, develop or undertake major modifications on the lots. The Development Contribution Plan can be found in Schedule 11A of Local Planning Scheme No. 3. The Development Contribution Plan Report, Cost Apportionment Schedule and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers documents are available below. The latest independent auditors report and financial statement for the Development Contribution Area for Rights of Way Improvement Works reserve account can be found in the City's Annual Report for 2024/25.
Proposed developments and subdivisions adjacent to a ROW are also required to comply with the standards set out in Local Planning Policy No. 6.5 'Developments and Subdivisions Abutting Rights of Way'. Local Planning Policy No. 6.5 aligns with the objectives of the Rights of Way Management Strategy and the Development Contribution Plan for Rights of Way Improvement Works.
Related documents
- Cost Contribution Schedule
- Annual Status Report - Development Contribution Plan for ROW Improvement Works
- Rights of Way Contributions - FAQs
- Rights of Way Closure Process
- Indicative Rights of Way Upgrade Construction Schedule
- Indicative Rights of Way Lighting Retrofit Construction Schedule
- Rights of Way - Development Contribution Plan - Report
- Rights of Way - Fact Sheet
- Rights of Way Management Strategy
- Acquisition Schedule - Category 4 and 5 ROWs.
Community improvement
Here you will find the City's community improvement initiatives created to enable thriving and liveable communities through cultivating plans, strategies and framework.
The City values the contribution that older people have made to enrich our City and we will provide a healthy, stimulating and safe environment where older people can enjoy good health and continue to participate in the community. The City of Stirling Age-Friendly Strategy is based on these:
- Outdoor spaces and the built environment
- Health and community support
- Communication and information
- Civic engagement
- Housing
- Inclusion and respect
- Transport
- Social participation.
Planning for an age-friendly City is one of the most effective ways to meet the needs of older residents and delivers many benefits to the whole community. An age-friendly City does not just benefit older people, but people of all ages, including children, parents, families and people living with a disability.
The City of Stirling is home to almost a quarter of a million people and approximately 23,000 businesses across our 30 diverse suburbs. Our residents and stakeholders have a right to know what is happening in their area and to be included, where possible, in the decision making process.
Our vast urban and social landscape means the City always has a large number of projects in various stages of planning or delivery that might affect day to day life.
To keep the community involved in these projects, we have developed a community and stakeholder engagement framework based on current industry best practice standards.
This means we will tailor our engagement for each project and use a combination of face-to-face, online, traditional and digital methods.
Council supports this approach and has adopted a policy to formalise these objectives and principles.
For more information, contact the Community Engagement Coordinator on (08) 9205 8555 or lodge an enquiry and feedback form.
The City’s Reconciliation Action Plan was developed with help from Indigenous organisations and communities as well as the broader community.
Partnerships are essential for the successful implementation of the plan, as we work towards building a stronger community where relationships are based on respect, appreciation and understanding of each other’s cultures, traditions and lifestyles.
More information on the Reconciliation Action Plan can be found here.
The City of Stirling's Multicultural Framework underpins the City’s vision of achieving an inclusive and harmonious community. The framework builds on the City’s achievements by focusing on three key areas – our newcomers, our community and our organisation.
For more information, please visit the new residents and migrants page, or view the Multicultural Framework document below.
Young people are one of our community’s greatest assets. They represent the future, and the City is dedicated to enhancing the skills, knowledge and opportunities for young people in the City.
The City of Stirling’s youth framework is designed to support the City’s young people’s contribution to community life, society and environment in meaningful ways.
For more information, visit the Young people page of the website.
The City of Stirling is committed to building an inclusive community where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can participate in and contribute to our diverse community. The review of the City’s Access and Inclusion Plan was launched with a period of extensive community consultation, connecting with people with disability, families and carers, peak bodies, service providers, businesses, and the broader community.
For more information, visit the Access and inclusion initiatives page.
The Public Open Space Strategy guides the City’s future public open space planning and provision. It aims to provide our community access to a network of quality parks and reserves to help deliver a healthier and active community. The new Strategy was adopted by Council on 10 May 2022.
In addition to the full version of the Public Open Space Strategy, an overview document and video have been developed as well as a range of FAQ’s which provide a great overview and further information regarding the Strategy.
Related documents
The City of Stirling has more than 50 permanent public artworks in its collection ranging from small to large scale in a variety of mediums. It is expected that the City will continue to add to this collection and to ensure that a strategic approach is taken for new commissions, a Public Art Masterplan was initiated.
The Public Art Masterplan 2021-2025 has been developed through extensive community engagement and sets out the strategic foundation, guiding principles and assessment criteria for future projects.
Sustainability, conservation and environment
Learn about the City’s environmental projects and initiatives.
The City is committed to achieving 100 per cent renewable electricity supply by 2030 and a 70 per cent carbon emissions reduction target by 2030. This will ensure we are doing our bit to help Australia reach Paris Climate Agreement goals and limit the impacts of climate change.
Our priority is to reduce the consumption of grid-powered electricity on City infrastructure (i.e. City owned buildings) or replace it with renewable sources to decrease carbon emissions.
The City is taking action to adapt to climate change. Our Climate Change Adaptation Plan uses a risk management approach to identify what climate risks are a priority and what actions are required.
It focuses on monitoring, implementing and reporting key initiatives within natural and built environments and through community programs.
The City has approximately 7km of coastline, including iconic beaches, such as Scarborough, Trigg and Mettams. The vulnerability of assets within the Western Australian coastal zone to coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation is expected to increase in the future. To reduce the impact on coastal areas and assets, the City has developed a Coastal Hazard and Risk Management Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP).
In preparation for the CHRMAP, the City consulted extensively with the community and stakeholders to identify high priority assets and considerations for our precious coastline. The CHRMAP provides strategic guidance for coordinated, integrated and sustainable land use planning and management and is a long-term plan that informs the City’s future decision making with the aim of making the coastline more resilient to coastal hazards.
Coastal hazards
Coastal hazards have the potential to impact coastal areas and assets. They have always existed along our coastlines. Coastal hazards are not necessarily associated with climate change, but they will be exacerbated by sea level rise in the future.
Erosion is the main coastal hazard impacting the City of Stirling coastline. Erosion can occur in a short time period - for example due to a storm event, or over a longer period of time - as the shoreline gradually retreats due to rising mean sea level or changes/variability in local coastal process.
If erosion occurs where assets exist, the damage is generally permanent. Erosion, however, is not necessarily permanent with sandy beaches often eroding and recovering seasonally. Both erosion and inundation hazard extents will be mapped for the CHRMAP, at various timeframes from present day to 2120.
Related documents
- Chapter 1: Establishing the Context
- Chapter 2: Risk Identification
- Chapter 3: Vulnerability Analysis
- Chapter 4: Risk Treatment
- Chapter 5: Implementation
- Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (Endorsed August 2023)
- Strategic Coastal Process Study (February 2016).
For more information, please contact Frank Strever, Engineering Services on (08) 9205 8555.
The City has developed an Urban Forest Plan aimed at enhancing tree canopy coverage on both City-owned and privately-owned land in the coming decades. While the plan establishes a clear path for the City to follow, fostering a greener and more verdant living environment is a collective responsibility. The Urban Forest Plan guides and encourages the community to also create greener neighbourhoods for the future.
The City has undertaken extensive mapping to understand changes to ‘significant canopy’ (defined as tree canopy cover that’s taller than three metres and has an area larger than 20m²). Analysing high-resolution airborne multispectral imagery, the City can calculate changes to significant canopy over time and space.
