Draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan endorsed by Council for public advertising

At a Special Council Meeting held on Wednesday 6 March, the City of South Perth Council endorsed the draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan and proposed Scheme Amendment No. 61 for public advertising.

The draft ACP and Scheme Amendment will now be sent to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), this is part of the process local governments are required to follow in relation to any changes to planning schemes. 

Following WAPC endorsement for public advertising, the community and other stakeholders will have their chance to comment and provide feedback on both documents.

Under the State Planning Framework, the City is required to prepare an Activity Centre Plan for South Perth.

The draft ACP sets out the long term strategic vision and the statutory planning requirements for development within the area that stretches from the tip of the South Perth peninsula to Richardson Park and the Perth Zoo. This area covers approximately 100 hectares, with a current population of 2,675 people.

The draft ACP provides:

• a robust planning framework to manage development that accommodates forecast population and activity growth
• guidance to improve movement, connectivity, streetscapes, quality design and public open space within and around the centre.

Additionally, the draft ACP takes a holistic, long term approach that can be updated over time to respond to community aspirations and any issues identified in its implementation.

Consultants RobertsDay were engaged in August 2017 to prepare the draft ACP which was presented to Council at the October 2018 Council Meeting. At this meeting the Council resolved to further consider the draft ACP and Scheme Amendment before endorsing the documents for public advertising.

From November 2018 to February 2019, elected members attended a series of workshops to assist in refining the draft ACP and proposed Scheme Amendment. Matters considered at these workshops included:

• population and demographic forecasts
• building height limits; distribution of building height
• street setbacks
• interface with the Perth Zoo
• design quality requirements and public realm improvements.

The workshops were facilitated by RobertsDay town planning, urban design and placemaking experts with assistance from architects With Architecture Studio and demographers .id the population experts. 

“The City and Council have invested considerable time and resources into developing the draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan and proposed Scheme Amendment for this unique and special area of the City,” Mayor Sue Doherty said.

“Preparing a strategic plan for future development is a significant responsibility and one we as elected members do not take lightly. The Council and City officers have worked hard in endeavouring to ensure the draft plan balances the needs and expectations of our current residents with the City’s need to plan for the future growth and development while also ensuring we preserve the character and amenity of this area.”

Following the public advertising period, the City will further review the draft ACP and Scheme Amendment in response to stakeholder feedback before they are presented to Council for final endorsement and submitted to the WAPC for approval.

For further details visit southperth.wa.gov.au/SPACP.