Planning strategies

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.

In November 2017, Council considered the recommendations of the Flora Terrace Parking & Urban Design Study and resolved to support the report. The final report is available for download below.

• Flora Terrace Urban Design Study - Final Report.

Background

In 2013 the City of Stirling commenced the Herdsman Glendalough Area Project. This project aims to facilitate the transition of Herdsman Glendalough over time into a high intensity mixed use area with an improved public realm and a strong focus on public transport.

To allow this to happen, an amendment to the City’s Local Planning Scheme to rezone the area to ‘Development’ zone was needed. The development controls for the area are contained in two documents, one called a ‘Structure Plan’ and another called a ‘Local Development Plan’ (formerly the Detailed Area Plan). These planning documents are together termed the Planning Framework.

Ultimately the area will contain mid-rise and high-rise housing and will be able to accommodate an additional 22,000 people and an additional 20,000 jobs.

Project history

The Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan was advertised for public comment on 20 January 2015. Key elements of the plan include:

• New land use permissibility

• Locations of new roads
• New public open space locations
• Explanatory information such as environment, movement networks etc.

The Local Development Plan was advertised on 20 March 2015. This document guides built form is be a tool for assessing development in the area. Key provisions of the Herdsman Glendalough Local Development Plan include:

• Setbacks
• Heights
• Streetscape and building articulation
• Plot ratio and height incentivised bonuses
• Landscaping.

As part of the implementation of this project, an amendment to the State Government’s Metropolitan Region Scheme was required to change the zoning of the area from ‘Industrial’ to ‘Urban’. The Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment was advertised for public comment on 3 April 2014. When advertised, the proposed Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment showed a large area as an ‘Urban Deferred’ zone due to the misapplication of State Planning Policy 4.3 Poultry Farms (now revoked), to an area around a poultry processing plant. Because of this, finalisation of the Structure Plan and Local Development Plan were put on hold while the issue was resolved.

The Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment was ultimately modified to remove the ‘Urban Deferred’ zone and was gazetted on 5 January 2018. This enabled the City to recommence the project, and introduce the ‘Development’ zone into its Local Planning Scheme on 21 August 2018 (Amendment 39).

On 23 June 2020, Council resolved to:

• Adopt the Herdsman Glendalough Local Development Plan

• Advertise the modifications to the Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan
• Prepare Amendment 114 to Local Planning Scheme No.3 for advertising
• Adopt modifications to Local Planning Policy 5.8 ‘Stirling City Centre and Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan’
• Adopt modifications to Local Planning Policy 4.3 ‘Industrial Design Guidelines’.

Scheme Amendment 114 is required to transfer key elements of the Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan into the City’s Local Planning Scheme.

Scheme Amendment 114 also proposes to rezone the area from ‘Development’ zone to ‘Mixed Use’, ‘Business’, ‘Light Industry’ and ‘Residential’ zones. Council also resolved to advertise modifications to the Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan.

Next steps

The City is currently advertising the modified Herdsman Glendalough Structure Plan and Scheme Amendment 114 until Thursday, 1 October 2020. More information on the advertising of these documents or to make a submission visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/herdsmanglendalough. Upon completion of advertising, the documents will be presented back to Council for final determination.

The Local Development Plan has now been adopted and can be used for guiding the design of buildings in the area.

In March 2017, Council adopted the Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space Landscape Plan.  The development of a landscape plan was identified in the Lake Gwelup Reserve Management Plan which proposes to upgrade pedestrian access around the reserve, increase the number of trees on the reserve, upgrade fencing, prioritise habitat revegetation efforts and improve signage. 

The plan will improve the amenity of the reserve, bringing it in line with its significance as a regional open space. The works are proposed to be implemented while further strategic needs analysis of the community parkland node progresses.

Some key features of the landscape master plan include:

• Pedestrian access improvement - A path hierarchy is proposed to be implemented at Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space which will provide equitable access in line with the Australian Standards for people with mobility issues.  Rationalisation and amendments to the existing path network are also proposed

• Signage strategy - Three entrances to the reserve have been identified on the landscape master plan for upgrade with the entrance upgrade on the corner of Segrave St and North Beach Road being recently completed.  A hierarchy of identification, wayfinding, educational and interpretive signage will be a detailed project undertaken separate to this landscape plan

• Fencing upgrades - The master plan proposes to replace the majority of perimeter fencing adjacent to parkland areas with bollards which will increase permeability for pedestrian access
• Additional tree planting - The City is proposing to increase the number of trees on the reserve whilst improving amenity and habitat.  Tree planting is proposed to be implemented over a number of years

• Habitat revegetation - Areas are identified as part of the landscape master plan that are priorities for revegetation efforts.

To enable works to continue across the rest of Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space, the community parkland node is not included in the landscape plan and will be subject to detailed resolution at a future stage.

Lake Gwelup has been identified as a location for a fenced dog park in the Lake Gwelup Reserve Management Plan and the City Wide Dog Park Implementation Strategy.  No changes to off leash dog exercise are proposed as a part of this landscape plan.

The priority for the implementation of the Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space Landscape Plan is the completion of upgrades to the primary lake circuit path for access and mobility.  Conversion of sections of the primary lake circuit path from limestone to concrete was completed in September 2018, making this heavily utilised reserve more accessible for the enjoyment of all City residents.

The landscape amenity upgrades are proposed to be undertaken over a minimum four financial year programme. 

• Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space Landscape Plan.

The Main Street centre in Osborne Park is a cultural hub within the City consisting of a range of commercial premises, cafes, restaurants and community facilities. However, from an urban design perspective, the way the centre was developed many years ago has impeded its success.

In 2016, the City of Stirling in conjunction with Village Well, prepared a Vision & Activation Strategy for the Main Street centre. In preparing the Strategy it was identified that the potential success of the centre is impeded by the poor historical urban design and design of road intersections. Specifically, the large setback to buildings, the dominance of parking within the streetscape, and the wide roads which enable traffic to speed through the centre, have all resulted in this poor urban design outcome that we see today.

An Urban Design Study was subsequently commenced in late 2017 in order to determine how Main Street could be designed to become more pedestrian-friendly. The Urban Design Study has to date included three rounds of informal consultation (Vision Workshop, Design Workshop, and Open Day). 

Vision workshop - Saturday, 9 December 2017

The Vision Workshop provided a summary of planning to date and enabled a robust discussion with the community about the precinct. The Vision Workshop provided the City and community with a clear understanding of the key issues and opportunities for the centre, and enabled attendees to work with the City in developing a clear vision for the area.

The vision workshop presentation and consultation report is available below:

• Vision Workshop Consultation Report.

Design workshop - Saturday, 5 May 2018

The Design Workshop saw the development of various design options for the Main Street Centre and its surrounds. These options arose from the outcomes of the Vision Workshop held in December 2017. The Design Workshop allowed the City and attendees to work collaboratively to refine these options and identify those most favoured by the community.

The Design Workshop presentation and consultation report is available below:

• Design Workshop Consultation Report.

Community Open Day - Saturday, 30 June 2018

The Open Day built on the work undertaken at the Design Workshop held in May 2018 and enabled interested members of the community to walk around and view a series of plans at their leisure. 

The documents presented at the Open Day are available to download below:

• Open Day Presentation.

Where to from here?

The City recently finalised the suite of documents that have been prepared as part of the Urban Design Study. These include an Urban Design Strategy, draft Scheme Amendment, and draft Local Development Plan, as well as a Transport Plan and Feasibility Study.

The Urban Design Strategy and Transport Plan were advertised for public comment from the 4 June 2019 to 6 August 2019, following the conclusion of advertising the Council considered the outcomes of advertising report on the 25 February 2020 and adopted the modified Urban Design Strategy and Transport Plan, these documents can be viewed below:

• Urban Design Strategy
• Transport Plan.

The Scheme Amendment and Local Development Plan were advertised for public comment from 4 June to 27 August 2020. City officers are currently reviewing the 120 submissions received. A report on the outcomes of advertising is expected to be considered by Council in December 2020.   

Any queries regarding the Main Street Urban Design Study can be directed to the City Planning via the Contact Centre on (08) 9205 8555.

The Mirrabooka Town Centre Structure Plan area is located between Reid Highway, Yirrigan Drive, Mirrabooka Avenue and Northwood Drive.

The City of Stirling is presently preparing a structure plan in consideration of the State Government strategy 'Directions 2031 and Beyond' and state planning policy 'Activity Centres for Perth and Peel'. 

The City is continuing improvements to the Mirrabooka Centre with the extension of Milldale Way to create a main-street, assisting initiatives, and providing new mixed development sites along the main-street. The improvements are aimed at making the Centre a better place for work, shopping, leisure and living.

The Structure Plan will be administered by the City in association with the Local Planning Scheme No.3.

The core aim of the MCSP is: "To create a centre with a diverse range of uses, which is attractive, safe and is a focus for the region's shopping, social housing and service needs."

To achieve this aim the following objectives have been identified for the MCSP:

• To provide a sound, coordinated strategy for the integrated development of public and private land to facilitate the creation of a safe, successful, vibrant centre, which provides a range of needs for a regional community
• To provide sound economic reasoning to substantiate and inform the development of recommendations in relation to land use zoning and allocation of costs
• To provide guidance on statutory planning provisions for desired development outcomes for private land within the centre, consistent with the adopted vision
• To provide guidance for an implementation strategy that builds on the outcomes of the Mirrabooka Regional Centre Improvement Strategy
• To provide for integration of built form and land uses with public transport infrastructure.

The following projects and documents have contributed to planning in the Mirrabooka centre area:

• 2000 Enquiry by Design Workshops
• 2002 Mirrabooka Regional Centre Improvement Strategy (MRCIS)
• 2004 Draft Local Commercial Strategy
• 2004 Draft Mirrabooka Regional Centre Design Theme & Guidelines
• 2005 Draft Mirrabooka Regional Centre - Urban Style Guide
• 2006 Draft Mirrabooka Regional Centre Parking Strategy
• 2006 Draft Mirrabooka Regional Centre Outline Development Plan.

Planning

The planning phase of the project requires collecting facts and information for preparation of a draft structure plan report.

Several precincts have been identified for the Mirrabooka centre area. Development standards for land use and building form will be coordinated for these precincts. 

Following various community consultation sessions and public advertising, Council has adopted a planning framework for the Scarborough Beach Road West Area. The Scarborough Beach Road West Area is located on Scarborough Beach Road between Hinderwell Street and Odin Road. The Planning framework is now fully operational and is made up of 3 documents including an Activity Corridor Strategy, a Local Development Plan and Amendment 65 to Local Planning Scheme No.3. The objective of this planning framework is to facilitate the delivery of transit lanes for buses in the short term and light rail in the future with appropriately scaled pedestrian friendly mixed use transit hubs at existing centres between Innaloo and Scarborough Beach.

The Planning Strategy is an overarching document which provides the basis for land use and built form changes in the Scarborough Beach Road West Area. The Local Development Plan contains detailed development provisions for residential and commercial properties. Amendment No.65 is the document which rezoned the Scarborough Beach Road West Area to allow for further mixed use development and an increase in residential density.

The Document focuses on the following key elements:

• Land use
• Built form
• Movement network
• Public realm.

Both an Integrated Transport Strategy and a Landscaping Masterplan of supporting documents have is also been prepared in conjunction with Planning Strategy and Detailed Area Plans.

The City of Stirling aims to transform the Stirling City Centre into a vibrant, people friendly activity centre built around the Stirling Railway Station.

Stirling City Centre will become a sustainable 21st century city, a hub for a diverse and prosperous community, and a place of wellbeing for everyone.

The aim is to transform the Stirling City Centre into a well-defined, compact centre with mixed use developments well integrated with the Stirling Railway Station.

Stirling City Centre Structure Plan

On 9 December 2014 Council adopted the Stirling City Centre Structure Plan.  

The Structure Plan was prepared by the City of Stirling and the Western Australian Planning Commission. The Structure Plan outlines an integrated approach to fostering the continued development of the Stirling City Centre.

The new Stirling City Centre is proposed to include some of the following new and existing elements:

• Redeveloped Innaloo Shopping Centre inclusive of new town square and apartments
• Redeveloped Event Cinema site with a new local Main Street, shops, offices and apartments
• Stirling Civic Precinct
• Osborne Park Hospital
• Western portion of Osborne Park Industrial Area transitioning into a high amenity mixed use precinct with new primary school and local park
• Urban Stream and Green Corridor
• Extension of Stephenson Avenue to Cedric Street and Karrinyup Road
• Provision for Light Rail Transit infrastructure connecting Glendalough and Stirling rail stations
• Incremental redevelopment of residential neighbourhoods in the Woodlands, Innaloo and Stirling precincts.

Stirling City Centre Structure Plan

Activity Centre Plan

On 9 December 2014 Council resolved to adopt the Stirling City Centre Structure Plan. 

On 13 March 2018, the City was advised that the Western Australian Planning Commission required the Stirling City Centre Structure Plan to be modified, and returned to the Western Australian Planning Commission so the document could be approved and published.

As part of the changes required, the Stirling City Centre Structure Plan will be renamed the Stirling City Centre Activity Centre Plan.

The City anticipates that the Stirling City Centre Activity Centre Plan will be endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission early 2020.

Local Development Plans

The Structure Plan defines objectives and requirements for each of the six precincts within the Stirling City Centre.  These provisions help inform the preparation of Local Development Plans.  Each Local Development Plan has specific development control requirements such as building heights and lot boundary setbacks.  Council has resolved to adopt the following six Local Development Plans to date, which can be downloaded from the links below:

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.

Local Planning Strategy - Part One

Local Planning Strategy - Part Two

The City of Stirling is developing a comprehensive Coastal Hazard Mitigation Strategy that will outline how the City will manage coastal erosion, now and into the future.

What is coastal erosion?

Coastal erosion is the loss of coastal land due to the net removal of sediments or bedrock from the shoreline.

There are two types of coastal erosion:

• Rapid-onset hazard (occurs very quickly, a period of days to weeks)
• Slow-onset hazard (occurring over years, or possibly decades to centuries).

Why does the City need a coastal hazard mitigation strategy?

The City’s coastline has been subject to both types of coastal erosion. Slow onset due to climate change and rising sea levels and rapid onset due to severe weather events.

What informed the strategy?

Following a series of storms in 2009 that significantly impacted coastal infrastructure at Watermans Bay, the City commissioned a ‘Strategic Coastal Processes Study.’ This study allowed the City to better understand the coastal processes, determine which areas of our coastline were most at risk and identify what those risks were.

Which areas are at risk?

Watermans Bay

Infrastructure at Watermans Bay was heavily impacted by erosion after the 2009 storms.  In order to restore and reinforce the affected sand dunes, which support change rooms and a section of the coastal shared path, the City constructed a Geotextile ‘sandbag wall.’ While this was very successful and the area is not of immediate concern, a long term solution will be needed in the next 10 years.

Mettams Pool

Mettams Pool has also experienced significant sand loss and dune erosion. This has not only impacted beach access ways but placed infrastructure, such as the changing rooms and shared path, at significant risk. As a result, the City has initiated the Mettams Pool Coastal Erosion Project.

What is Mettams Pool Coastal Erosion Project?

The City is working with the community to investigate engineering options that address ongoing coastal erosion at Mettams Pool. To do this, the City is seeking feedback from the community on what they value about Mettams Pool, which will inform a series of concept designs which will be presented for consideration. From there, a report will be prepared for Council including the preferred solution and estimate of project costs. Until that process has been completed no construction works will be undertaken. For more information on the Mettams Pool project view Your Say Stirling. 

The City Wide Fenced Dog Park Implementation Strategy aims to guide the installation of fenced dog exercise areas across the City in a strategic and equitable manner.

Background

With the significant success of the Inglewood Oval fenced dog park and the recent completion of the Charles Riley Memorial Reserve dog park, the City is looking to guide future implementation of these facilities across the City over the next four years.

As mentioned above, the City currently has two fenced dog parks- Inglewood Oval dog park (constructed March 2013) and Charles Riley dog park (constructed December 2015). These fenced dog parks have been well received by the community and are very popular. Dog parks not only provide a secure environment for dog socialisation, exercise and training but also provide owners with an opportunity for social interaction. They help create a sense of community amongst those that frequent these facilities.

A user survey conducted at Inglewood Oval dog park in 2014 showed that only 60% of people using the Inglewood facility were local (within a 10 minute drive). The popularity of the facilities has created ongoing operational issues that make it difficult to maintain the grass to a satisfactory standard. The high level of community use due to the lack of alternative facilities also makes it difficult to undertake repairs that require closure of the facility for any extended period of time.

With the clear need for additional fenced dog parks to be established within the City, a number of site considerations have been taken into account when developing the City Wide Fenced Dog Park Implementation Strategy. These include:

A 10 minute drive catchment:

• Equitable distribution across the City
• District and regional reserve locations
• Areas of under-utilised open space larger than 2,800 m2
• Proximity to existing irrigation system.

On the basis of the above summarised criteria, the following reserves are proposed to accommodate fenced dog parks areas:

• Princess Wallington Reserve (Balga)
• Dianella Regional Open Space (Dianella)
• Carine Regional Open Space (Carine)
• Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space (Gwelup)
• Robinson Reserve (Tuart Hill) (pending Master Plan).

The south-west and north-east sections of the City do not have reserves that meet the current criteria to accommodate a fenced dog park. The intent is to develop dog parks in the locations identified in this strategy as a priority and then revisit the North-East and South-West areas of the City in greater detail and with revised selection criteria with a view to finding locations capable of accommodating dog parks.

The size of Regional Open Space reserves allows for dual enclosure facilities. Dog parks planned for Gwelup, Dianella and Carine facilities will consist of both a small and large enclosure.

It should be noted that the installation of fenced dog parks does not change the existing use of reserves by owners and their dogs in accordance with local laws and the Dog Act. Dogs may still be exercised off leash in reserves where a fenced dog park is located. Whether in the reserve or within a fenced dog park, dogs must be under control at all times.

Implementation

The strategy proposes the initial installation of five (5) fenced dog parks across the City. The reserves identified for fenced dog parks and the proposed year of implementation are identified below:

Stage 1 (2017/2018)

• Princess Wallington Reserve (Balga)

• Dianella Regional Open Space (Dianella).

Stage 2

• Carine Regional Open Space (Carine).

Stage 3

• Robinson Reserve (Tuart Hill) (pending master plan)
• Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space (Gwelup).

Each fenced dog park will be subject to further public consultation following concept design. Residents that live within a 500 metre catchment of the identified reserve will be consulted prior to finalisation of the design. 

The City of Stirling has adopted a local housing strategy for the next 5 years to guide future provision of housing, assess the role of supporting services and inform residential density reviews, focusing on 7 issues. Find out more about the housing strategy.

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) requires the City of Stirling to prepare a local housing strategy.

In December 2009, the City of Stirling adopted the Local Housing Strategy 2010 to analyse current housing-related issues, and identify housing needs for the next 5 years, and is awaiting endorsement by the WAPC.

It outlines a set of principles to:

• Guide future provision of housing and residential lots
• Assess the role of supporting services
• Inform residential density reviews.

The issues and principles in the housing strategy are also used in the Local Area Planning project to address key issues within each local area.

The City of Stirling's Integrated Cycling Strategy (ICS) sits underneath the Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) and provides more detail on how the strategic objectives of the ITS, in relation to cycling, can be achieved.  

The City of Stirling adopted the Integrated Transport Strategy at its 22 September 2009 meeting after reviewing public comments, and forms the basis for subsequent strategies and implementation plans.  For cycling this has translated to the following outcomes:

• The City has a bicycle friendly network allowing cyclists to easily travel anywhere within the City
• Travel by bicycle within the City is safe, direct and convenient with minimal impediment from traffic or pedestrians
• The movement of cyclists is given priority over the movement of vehicles
• Safe, secure and appropriate end of trip facilities are provided in major developments, centres and transport modes
• Cyclist routes are clearly signed and easy to navigate
• The City actively works to support and encourage community members in cycling for transport, through the provision of education, skills-training and associated services.

At the time the Integrated Transport Strategy was advertised, the City was already in the process of drafting the latest edition of the Bike Plan and had, as part of that process, identified some critical conflicts that required resolution before moving forward.  Rather than progressing cycling on the 'business as usual' model, which was producing those conflicts, it was decided to review these conflicts and, by assessing the relative risks, determine treatment plans and alternate strategies to produce a new model for cycling implementation that could deliver the required outcomes. 

One of the common shortcomings of bike plans, across government in general, was that they failed to address the difference between policy setting (by Council) and implementation (by the administration).  In order to recognise this, the title and content of this document was revised to Integrated Cycling Strategy (ICS) to better align it as a subsidiary document to the City's Integrated Transport Strategy.

Since its release as a public document, following the first stage of consultation in 2011, the initial draft ICS has provided a focal point in many discussions, meetings and workshops in which the City has been involved, and has met with considerable interest and support from a number of other local governments, cycling advocacy groups and elements within the state government agencies.  Recent developments in cycling across the world, together with a greater willingness to see them implemented in WA, have since enabled these concepts to be incorporated into Part Two of the strategy (new).

The Integrated Cycling Strategy, which was formally adopted by Council on 5 May 2015, will determine the strategic direction for cycling for the foreseeable future and set the framework for implementation.  In future cycling should no longer be provided on a piecemeal basis rather the product of detailed route planning and the provision of complete routes.  Following the initial public consultation the document has been divided into two parts, the first of which is essentially a reference document which provides the background study behind the development and sets the scheme for part two.

Part two provides the 'Way forward and 'toolkit' and explains the rationale behind an investment program for cycling based on the development of 'complete routes'. A separate 'Bike Route Development Plan' (BRDP) will identify the Primary and Secondary routes which will form the basis of the City's investment in cycling for the 10-year plan.  This in turn will feed into the 5-year planning horizon which will determine the design program required to underwrite each annual budget submission to Council.  This BRDP is already under development and defines the corridors within which Primary and Secondary cycling routes will be developed.  Once the underlying Strategy has been adopted by Council and the BRDP finalised, it will be uploaded to the City's website as part of the more detailed implementation plan where it will remain available, alongside the ICS, for information and public comment.

As with the footpath program, the individual routes will be weighed with a priority score used to determine the order in which they should be delivered.  As these route corridors are assessed and detailed designs produced consultation within the immediate community will be undertaken at concept stage to ensure that the City can properly accommodate local needs with the wider strategic goals.

The Stirling to Scarborough Bicycle Boulevard is the first major route to be developed, and the concept design is now underway. 

Since the Integrated Cycling Strategy was formally adopted by Council on 5 May 2015, the City has undertaken the Local Bike Route (LBR) review, in accordance with the requirements of the WA Bicycle Network Plan.

This process identified prospective route corridors for the primary and secondary cycling routes discussed in section 7.1 of the ICS (pages 106 & 107).

A key outcome from the LBR review identified that the most significant of those primary routes, warranting early delivery, was a four kilometre long east-west route connecting two of the City's main activity centres:

• The eastern focus of this route is the 'Strategic Metropolitan Centre' of Stirling, which also benefits from direct connectivity to the primary PSP route along the Mitchell Freeway and Stirling train station
• The western focus of the route is the District Centre of Scarborough, which is currently the subject of a major redevelopment under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) and through which runs the primary coastal cycling route.

In October 2015 the City applied to the Department of Transport (DoT) for two year PBN grant funding, for the design and first phase construction of the Stirling to Scarborough Bicycle Boulevard, and was awarded a grant for $345,000 in May 2016. Moorland Street is uniquely placed to be the main focus for this route. 

To view the Integrated Cycling Strategy, click here:

Integrated Cycling Strategy

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 urbinasation, 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:

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 Propram" 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 17 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 2018/19.

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.  

The City of Stirling's Integrated Transport Strategy focuses on land use and transport integration, pedestrian amenities, cycling, public transport, freight, parking and demand management. An implementation plan is being developed for it. Find out more about the transport strategy.

The City of Stirling adopted an Integrated Transport Strategy at its 22 September 2009 meeting after reviewing public comments, and is in the midst of developing an implementation plan for it.

Please download the Transport strategy, which aims to develop a more efficient and sustainable transport network, with 7 focus areas:

• Land use and transport integration
• Pedestrian amenities
• Cycling
• Public transport
• Freight
• Parking
• Demand management.

Integrated transport strategy