FAQs

Local planning schemes set out the way land is to be used and developed, classify areas for land use and include provisions to coordinate infrastructure and development within the local government area. This is set out via scheme text and maps. The scheme forms the basis for all planning decisions in the City, and is supplemented by the Residential Design Codes and State Planning Policies.

Local governments are to review their local planning schemes every 5 years. Last year, the City reviewed the current Local Planning Scheme No. 4 and determined that it was no longer fit for purpose as it was over 19 years old and, despite a number of amendments, was outdated, no longer fit for purpose, and inconsistent with state regulations, which have changed significantly. In early 2026, the Western Australian Planning Commission endorsed the fact that a new scheme is needed.

A new planning scheme must be in the manner and form set out in the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. The new scheme must be consistent with state planning policies and be guided by the City's recently endorsed Local Planning Strategy. City Officers understand from discussions with the Department of Planning and other local governments that are drafting new schemes that a new local planning scheme should be streamlined but may be supported by local planning policies.

It could take 2 years or more.

The City is aiming to present a new draft scheme to Council for initiation before the end of 2026. Once initiated, it is then referred to the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) for review. Once the DPLH is satisfied, they make a recommendation to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) for formal permission to advertise. The WAPC then makes a recommendation to the Minister for Planning, who determines whether the scheme can be advertised with or without amendments.

Once advertising permission is granted, the City formally advertises the complete draft of the scheme for 90 days, collects and responds to submissions and proposes any amendments before sending it back to Council with another recommendation. From there it's back to the WAPC and, finally, the Minister for Planning to make a final decision.

The current planning scheme will remain in effect until the new scheme is approved by the Minister for Planning and gazetted. 

No. Local planning policies will continue to have effect and will remain in force unless specifically amended or revoked by Council. However, as part of a separate process, the City has almost completed reviewing and amending all of the current local planning policies to update and simplify them in preparation for the new scheme. New policies may be proposed to supplement the new scheme in the future.

In some cases, yes. Some structure plan areas are fully or partially developed and will be rationalised into a standard zone and density code on the new scheme map. Other areas still have valid structure plans in place and will remain as is. Part of the new scheme process includes reviewing all structure plan areas to determine whether they should remain, be amended, or removed. 

If a structure plan area is completely rationalised into the new scheme map, the corresponding structure plan will no longer apply. If a structure plan area is only partially rationalised, the structure plan may have to be amended through a separate process but, in the interim, the plan will still apply to the remaining area.

No. The scheme process does not change heritage listings. Review and amendment of heritage listed places and heritage areas is a separate process.