Since 2016 the City of Stirling has been working with the community to develop the Better Suburbs Strategy, a long term plan for growth in the City’s north eastern suburbs. Phase 1 was adopted by Council on 11 August 2020 which includes the Better Suburbs Strategy and changes to the planning framework for the Nollamara, Mirrabooka Village and Balga Plaza Shopping Centres. The changes allow for new public plazas, new retail, higher residential density and more tree coverage on private and public land. The proposed Planning Framework changes were advertised from the 31 October 2019 to 12 December 2019. A report to Council on the outcomes of advertising is available here.
The remaining rezoning of land within the Better Suburbs area along corridors and at centres not included in Phase 1 will be progressed as part of the City’s upcoming new Local Planning Scheme No.4.
There is however an ability for individual or groups of property owners to request rezoning of their properties by of a scheme amendment application. Any application will need to conform to the Strategy and will generally need to encompass an entire street block or activity centre.
The Strategy aims to keep larger house blocks in residential areas of the City for bigger households, increase the number of trees and improve the overall liveability of the City. It focuses investment, jobs and housing growth along public transport corridors and within activity centres. The adopted Strategy is available below.
Better Suburbs Strategy
Scheme Amendment No.109
This rezones properties in and around the Balga Plaza, Mirrabooka Village, and Nollamara Shopping Centres. This allows for new public plazas, new retail, higher residential density, and more tree coverage on private and public land. Amendment No.109 will now progress through State Government for final Ministerial approval and gazettal which is expected to occur by the end of 2020. The adopted version of Amendment No.109 is available below.
Scheme Amendment No.109
Local Development Plan
A Local Development Plan goes with the Scheme Amendment. The Local Development Plan explains building heights, lot sizes, and building setbacks for landscaping for each lot within Mirrabooka Village, Nollamara Shopping Centre and Balga Plaza. The adopted Local Development Plan is available below.
Better Suburbs Neighbourhood Centre Local Development Plan
Road closure
To create a new shopping/dining street and a public plaza surrounded by shops, we will need to close some roads in the car park of Nollamara Shopping Centre fronting Nollamara Avenue and Hillsborough Drive. The Road Closure will now progress through State Government for final Ministerial approval and gazettal, however this will be deferred until market conditions will enable sale of the land.
Previous Community Engagement
The City talked to a lot of people to find out what they like about where they live, what could be improved, and what they want from the City. The planning frameworks have been developed based on the vision of the community.
Listening Posts and Community Survey - 2016/2017
The City started community consultation for the Better Suburbs project December 2016.
The City set up eight listening posts across the Better Suburbs area between 08 December 2016 and 10 December 2016 at Mirrabooka Village, Nollamara Shops, Stirling Central, Balga Friday Markets, Mirrabooka Mosque, Nollamara Buddhist Centre, and the Mirrabooka Shopping Centre.
City officers talked to landowners, tenants and visitors about their suburbs. Participants also completed a survey that covered a range of development issues affecting the Better Suburbs area. The survey was also available on the City's website.
The survey ended on 28 February 2017 with 864 completed surveys submitted.
Vision and Design Workshops - 2017
During March and April 2017, the City held a series of vision/design workshops where City officers worked with the participants to create a long-term vision and to generate designs to manage the key planning issues.
From July to August 2017, the City met with community groups, building industry representatives and State Government agencies to generate ideas on multi-generational housing, shops, and centre design. The community and stakeholder inputs shaped the draft plans for the Better Suburbs area prepared by the City and its consultant team.
Open Day and Community Festival - 2017
The City displayed the draft plans for the future development of Balga, Dianella, Mirrabooka, Nollamara and Westminster at a Public Open Day and Community Festival on 26 November 2017. The draft plans were developed in consultation with the community as part of the community consultation programme in 2016 and 2017.
For more information regarding the Better Suburbs project, contact the City Planning Team on (08) 9205 8555.