Council resolve to further consider draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan

At the Council Meeting held on 30 October the City of South Perth Council resolved to further consider the City’s draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP) and associated scheme amendment before both documents are finalised for the purpose of public advertising.

Additionally, the Council resolved to ensure that the City had started community engagement of its draft Local Planning Strategy before finalisation of the draft ACP and associated scheme amendment, and that Council undertake a series of workshops with City planning officers and relevant external consultants with experience in architecture, urban design, preparation of statutory documents and economic and demographic analysis of activity centres. These processes are to have been completed or substantially commenced before the documents are finalised, but no later than April 2019.

Mayor Sue Doherty said the objective of workshops with City planning officers and consultants was to further consider the built form and land use options presented in the draft ACP and scheme amendment. This would involve but not be limited to consideration of matters including: ensuring that the ‘Civic Triangle’ site is the focal and structural centre point for the South Perth peninsula precinct; the current proposed limits on building size; and the introduction of a maximum height limit instead of a maximum plot ratio limit. 

Mayor Doherty said the Council’s decision would ensure an optimal outcome for the City, Council, community and stakeholders that would be consistent with Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) planning guidelines.

“The Council’s decision will allow a reasonable period for elected members and the City’s strategic planning officers to build on the current work and explore a variety of built form options that will not only meet the Council’s vision for the precinct and address the diverse views of the community, but be in alignment with State Government’s overarching planning framework including its plans to provide for an increased population in South Perth.”

“In undertaking this work, it will be prudent to enlist the services of appropriate consultants to assist in working through all options, to ensure practicability and statutory compliance.”

Mayor Doherty said the Council recognised the difficulties with the existing town planning scheme provisions relating to the South Perth peninsula and that the Council believed the ACP and scheme amendment should be prepared separately. 

The Council believed it would be consistent with WAPC planning guidelines to commence community consultation of the draft Local Planning Scheme, the document that sets the strategic direction for planning and development for the City over the next 10 to 15 years before finalising the draft ACP and associated scheme amendment for public advertising. Once the ACP was finalised, the specific content of the scheme amendment could be settled with input from the WAPC and advertised for public consultation. 

Background

The South Perth Activity Centre Plan will set out the long term strategic vision and the statutory planning requirements for development in the area over the next 10 years.

An Activity Centre Plan is a detailed planning framework intended to shape and guide the development of an area. It accommodates projected and required growth to ensure a functioning, sustainable and viable activity centre.

The South Perth Activity Centre Plan will set out the strategic vision and statutory planning requirements for development within the area that stretches from the tip of South Perth Peninsula to Richardson Park and the Zoo. This area covers approximately 100 hectares, with a current population of 2,675 people.

The Activity Centre Plan will provide:
• A robust planning framework to manage development that accommodates forecast and required population and activity growth
• Guidance to improve movement, connectivity, streetscapes and public open space within and around the centre
• The Plan will take a holistic, long term approach that can be updated over time to respond to issues and community aspirations.