Frequently Asked Questions

You are invited to make a submission on a draft document for local planning policies, including a new template. The draft document provides guidance to assist with the preparation, review and amendment of policies and will form part of the WA Planning Manual.

The State Government’s Action Plan for Planning Reform (Action Plan) identifies actions specific to improving the legibility and consistency of the use of local planning policies. This includes requiring local planning policies to be prepared in a standard manner and form. Implementation of this action, however, will require changes to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (LPS Regulations).

When these changes to the LPS Regulations occur, it is anticipated that the supporting template will likely become the approved manner and form for local planning policies. At this stage, the template is made available as a resource to support local governments in preparing or amending local planning policies.

The purpose of the draft document is to provide consistent procedural best practice guidance for the content, preparation, review and amendment of local planning policies. This will improve both consistency and legibility and ensure that local planning policies are fit-for-purpose.

The Department on behalf of the WAPC has been preparing this draft document primarily to respond to initiative B5 of the Action Plan relating to clear and concise guidance being readily available.

The document also responds to initiative B3 of the Action Plan, although certain actions under this initiative will require changes to the LPS Regulations. This document represents an interim step to improve consistency prior to regulatory change. It is anticipated that the document will be amended at a later stage to reflect any new regulatory provisions for local planning policies.

In the interim, the draft document has been prepared to provide procedural and best practice guidance based on current regulatory provisions.

There is currently no definitive timeline for changes to the LPS Regulations. 

It is noted that changes to the LPS Regulations will also be required to enable proclamation of the final Part of the Planning and Development Amendment Act 2023 (Amendment Act), being Part 9. Part 9 of the Amendment Act facilitates an improved and more contemporary approach to the review and updating of State and local planning instruments, including introducing an increased timeframe of 10 years (currently five) for the review of a local planning schemes. 

Before coming into effect, any changes to the LPS Regulations would be released as a draft for consultation with key stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Authority and local governments as required by Section 256 of the Act.

The WA Planning Manual (Manual) will provide user friendly best practice guidance on the purpose, use and preparation of planning instruments, primarily those that constitute the local planning framework. The Manual will be an online, virtual tool with a dedicated webpage that consolidates the relevant information in one place. Several chapters of the manual have been completed, like the WA Planning Manual – Guidance for Structure Plans, while several others are progressing.

Following the eight-week consultation period, any feedback received will be considered and further modifications may be made to the proposed document and supporting template for local planning policies.