Urban planning
Development of our growing City is managed through plans, policies and rules under the Western Australian planning system. The City is committed to creating liveable communities and places through strategic land use planning.
City assumes planning control for Scarborough Redevelopment Area
On 9 August 2023, the City took back planning control of the Scarborough Redevelopment Area.
In July 2014 DevelopmentWA, formerly the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, assumed planning control of the Redevelopment Area as part of the initiative to upgrade and revitalise the Scarborough foreshore area.
Mayor Mark Irwin said the story of the Scarborough redevelopment was ultimately a story of a successful, once-in-a-generation $100 million investment.
The significant investment from the City of Stirling and State Government has resulted in Scarborough being one of Australia’s premier tourism and seaside destinations.
While planning control rested with DevelopmentWA, and the City had a limited role in the application process, Council often took the opportunity to advocate to DevelopmentWA on behalf of the community. Now, all applications will be submitted to the City, with our officers assessing the applications we receive in accordance with the planning framework for the area.
Importantly, this means the City will consult with the community on development proposals, and the community will have full visibility around what happens with their submissions, as these comments, and the officer’s response to them will now be made public.
The City looks forward to working with the community and the development industry to build on the progress so far and ensure that the vision of the Scarborough Master Plan is realised.
More details on the process to return the redevelopment area to the control of the City can be found here.
How is the City planning for urban growth?
A Local Planning Strategy is essentially a ‘road map’ of the future growth directions for the City. It guides future decisions in relation to rezoning, residential density changes and funding for future services and infrastructure.
The City of Stirling's Local Planning Strategy was endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission on 28 October 2019. It provides the strategic basis for 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.
If future development within the City isn't suitably planned, population growth and increased commercial opportunities could have a detrimental impact on 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.
Copies of the City's Local Planning Strategy can be viewed by selecting one of the links below:
Local Planning Strategy - Part One
Local Planning Strategy - Part Two
Did you know?
The Local Planning Strategy is a two part document. Part one contains the overall strategic direction for the City, while part two contains all relevant background information and an analysis of the issues the City is facing.
A Local Planning Scheme is a statutory document that sets out zonings and other classifications over land and provides rules and requirements that control land use and development in the City. It also sets out the processes that must be followed to obtain planning approvals.
The City's Local Planning Strategy guides the zoning and regulations in the Local Planning Scheme.
Local Planning Scheme No. 3 controls the development and use of land across the City of Stirling (with the exception of the land within the Scarborough redevelopment area). The formal Scheme documents comprise of the Scheme Text and Scheme Maps and must be read in conjunction with the Local Planning Scheme No. 3 - Policy Manual.
Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015
The Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 were gazetted on 25 August 2015 and took effect on 19 October 2015.
The Regulations include the Deemed Provisions (Schedule 2) which automatically apply to all local planning schemes in Western Australia; and therefore override numerous provisions of the City's Local Planning Scheme No. 3; Schedule 2 of the Regulations is therefore to be read in conjunction with Local Planning Scheme No.3 and prevails in the case of any inconsistencies.
For more information, please visit the Western Australian Planning Commission website.
Draft Local Planning Scheme No.4
Between 2017 and 2018 the City undertook a review of its current Local Planning Scheme No. 3. On 16 January 2019 the Western Australian Planning Commission wrote to the City advising that it had considered the Scheme Review Report and agreed with its recommendation that a new Local Planning Scheme should be prepared.
On 15 August 2023 Council resolved to prepare new Local Planning Scheme No. 4 (Council Resolution Number 0823/034). This resolution can be viewed here.
Did you know?
The Scheme Maps divide the district into zones to identify areas for particular uses and identifies land reserved for public purposes. The Scheme Text sets out the Local Planning Framework, and identifies the types of uses and development permitted in the different zones.
The City over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial years undertook a detailed review of the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 3 (LPS3). This review was required in order to satisfy the requirements of Part 6 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, which requires a scheme to be reviewed every five years.
The Scheme Review Report concluded that in the time that LPS3 has been operating, there have been significant changes to State Government policy and legislation that impacts on the operation of the Scheme. Furthermore, analysis of the performance of LPS3 demonstrated that it was not delivering on all of its objectives. Given the extent of changes required to ensure that LPS3 can deliver on its aims and objectives, the Scheme Review Report recommended that it be repealed and replaced with a new Scheme.
The Scheme Review Report was presented to Council at its meeting on 17 April 2018 where it resolved to approve the report recommendations and forward the report to the Western Australian Planning Commission (Council Resolution 0418/019 refers). The Scheme Review Report was subsequently forward to the Western Australian Planning Commission on 2 May 2018.
On 16 January 2019 the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) wrote to the City advising that it had considered the report on the review of Local Planning Scheme No. 3, and advised that it agreed with the recommendations of the report that a new local planning scheme be prepared.
The City intends to commence the preparation of the new draft scheme, Local Planning Scheme No. 4, in the 2019/20 financial year. Subject to ongoing funding being provided, the preparation of the new draft scheme is expected to take 3 – 4 years, following which the process of WAPC consent to advertise, advertising and WAPC decision will be undertaken.
Pursuant to Regulation 67(2) of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015, the documents below are hereby provided for public viewing. Hard copies of these documents are also available for viewing at the City’s Main Administration Building.
Local planning policies
The following local planning policies have been adopted by Council under the Local Planning Scheme No. 3 or the Local Government Act:
Local development plans
Local development plans are planning tools used to provide specific design provisions in comparison to those specified in the residential design codes (R-codes).
Structure plans
A structure plan is used to indicate the way in which an area is proposed for development.
Strategies
Strategy sets the vision and long-term planning directions.
Scarborough Redevelopment Area
The following documents apply to the Scarborough Redevelopment Area.