Frequently asked questions

A development application has been lodged with the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) under Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2005 for the construction of 11 single-storey buildings incorporating a range of commercial and retail tenancies at Lots 17, 30 and 31 Vittoria Road and Lots 4 and 410 Jeffrey Road, Glen Iris. 

It is also proposed to amend the City of Bunbury Local Planning Scheme No. 8 (LPS8) to include ‘Tavern’ as an additional use on Lot 17 Vittoria Road, Glen Iris (Amendment 13).

The Part 17 Significant Development Pathway was a temporary initiative introduced by the State Government in 2020 to encourage major developments as part of its COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery program. Proposals valued at $20 million or more in the metropolitan area and $5 million or more in regional areas were able to apply to be determined by the WAPC. On 29 December 2023 the pathway closed, however all applications lodged prior to this date and that are yet to be determined, such as this Commercial and Retail Development in Glen Iris, continue to be assessed under Part 17.

In making its decision, the WAPC is able to apply additional discretion. For more information about the pathway, please visit the Part 17 page (External link: Part 17 Significant Development Pathway (planning.wa.gov.au)), including FAQs.

The proposed development is located within the City of Bunbury local government area.  

Yes, the City of Bunbury will be consulted on the development application, as the responsible local government authority for comment on the application, along with relevant State agency stakeholders.

The subject site is zoned ‘Service Commercial’ and is in a Special Control Area – Flood Prone Land and Special Control Area – Development Area 15 under LPS8. A ‘tavern’ land use is an X use (not permitted) within the Service Commercial zone under LPS8. The applicant has lodged Amendment No.13 to LPS8 with the City of Bunbury to allow the additional use of a Tavern as a discretionary use for Lot 17 Vittoria Road which forms part of the subject site. The scheme amendment has been initiated and granted consent to advertise.  

In addition to the above, the City of Bunbury Local Planning Strategy 2018 contains a Business and Commerce strategy map which identifies the subject lot as having the potential for a Tavern land use through a scheme amendment process. The Strategy identifies that a Tavern land use may be suitable for this specific site, however such land use activity is not necessarily appropriate across the entire Service Commercial zone.

The Local Planning Strategy can be viewed here.

The advertising of both the scheme amendment and the development application is being undertaken concurrently by the City and the WAPC to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary duplication. As the scheme amendment and the development application are generally aligned, advertising the more detailed development application will assist in visualising the proposed built form outcomes and understand the potential impacts of a Tavern use, details which are not typically contained in a scheme amendment. It also provides a single location to view plans, make a submission and get more information on either the scheme amendment or the development application.

Yes, you can make a submission on either the scheme amendment, the development application, or both. The City and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (Department) are running public advertising through the Department’s online consultation hub to simplify the concurrent consultation process. Using the online form will ensure submissions are received and are valid. You do not have to create an account to make an online submission, you can add attachments and your submission is confidential.

If you make a submission on Amendment 13, this will be shared with the City for the purposes of its assessment and recommendation on the scheme amendment. 

Your submission and contact information on the development application will not be published and it will not be shared with the City or applicant. A summary of the feedback from submissions, including the themes and key issues raised, will be shared with the City and applicant so they have an opportunity to respond to the matters raised. A summary of submissions is included in the report presented to the WAPC for determination. To assist with deliberations, details of all submissions are shared with Commission members on a confidential basis. 

No. While a schedule of the submissions received will be provided to the City and the WAPC, individual names and addresses will not be published.  

The scheme amendment is required to be advertised for public comment in accordance with the Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015. It is important to emphasise that, although the City of Bunbury Council has resolved to advertise the scheme amendment, this does not indicate support or otherwise for the scheme amendment and a full assessment has not been undertaken at this time.

Once advertising closes, the City will consider all submissions received on the proposed scheme amendment and prepare a report for Council recommending either to support (with or without modifications) or not proceed with the scheme amendment. The Council meeting at which the scheme amendment is considered will be open to the public and anyone who makes a submission on either the scheme amendment or the development application will be invited to attend.

This recommendation will then be provided to the WAPC who will consider the proposal and make a recommendation to the Minister of Planning, who will make the final decision on the scheme amendment.

The Department will assess the application and prepare a report, along with a recommendation, for the WAPC’s consideration. This assessment will focus on matters such as strategic planning and potential impacts on local amenity, traffic, parking, the environment and bushfire management, and will also take into account submissions received during the advertising period. The report will either recommend that the application be approved (with or without conditions) or be refused.

The WAPC is the decision-maker for Part 17 Significant Development Applications. A meeting date for the WAPC to determine the application will be scheduled once feedback has been received from the public and other stakeholders, and the planning assessment is completed.

The WAPC will consider the scheme amendment and the development application at separate meetings. The WAPC also has the ability to make a decision on the development application prior to a decision being made on the scheme amendment.  However, in making any decision on the development application, the scheme amendment would be a relevant consideration on the basis that it has been advertised and is considered to be a ‘seriously entertained’ planning instrument.

There are no statutory timeframes to assess a development application under the temporary Part 17 Significant Development Pathway, however applications are required to be determined as soon as is reasonably practical. Once a meeting date is confirmed, any person who made a submission on the development application will be advised by WAPC officers and offered the opportunity to attend the meeting either in person or online. Applications can be made to make a presentation (deputation) to the WAPC.

Submitters who agreed to be contacted when they made an online submission, will be notified of the application outcome.

While public advertising is open, the scheme amendment and the development application can be viewed on this page or in person at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, Level 2, 140 William Street, Perth (by appointment) or at the City of Bunbury’s administration office at 4 Stephen Street, Bunbury during office hours. Contact the Department at SDAUconsultation@dplh.wa.gov.au or on 6551 9450 to make an appointment to view the plans or speak with a planner if you have any queries.

Local residents: Planners from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will also visit Bunbury on 12 and 13 June 2025 to answer questions about the development application, and the co-consultation and Part 17 assessment processes. For more information and to make a booking, visit this page.

Submissions will be accepted until 11.59pm on 6 July 2025. Late submissions may not be accepted.