South Perth Activity Centre Plan
On 21 December 2021 the Western Australian Planning Commission approved the South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP).
The South Perth ACP sets out the City’s strategic vision and statutory planning requirements for development in the area between South Perth Peninsula, Richardson Park and the Perth Zoo.
The City’s vision for the South Perth Activity Centre was developed through the South Perth Peninsula Place & Design project in 2017 aspiring to achieve:
A distinctive inner city activity centre, tourism destination and residential neighbourhood that is shaped by its connection to nature, unique assets, distinctive buildings, and future-forward approaches to sustainable living. Its lively centre and pedestrian friendly tree-lined streets connect locals and visitors to its diverse businesses, transport nodes and local heritage.
South Perth Station Precinct Place and Design Project
Since the establishment of the South Perth Station Precinct in 2011, a range of stakeholder groups have expressed a desire to see adjustments made to the area’s planning framework to preserve local character, address transport and traffic issues, deliver new and upgraded community amenities and to improve development outcomes.
The South Perth Station Precinct Place and Design Project commenced in October 2016 with the aim of bringing stakeholders together and considering a holistic response to the planning issues in the area. The study built upon previous research, planning and consultation, with a focus on bringing stakeholders together to consider holistic solutions to these challenges whilst addressing successive State Government strategies designed to accommodate population growth up to 2031. Utilising a place-led approach to understand and better articulate stakeholder aspirations for the area, the process informed a ‘renewed’ draft vision and character area framework, together with a series of goals, strategies and actions to achieve the vision for the Peninsula.
The final report reflected the strategic direction of the City of South Perth and the State Government by recognising that the South Perth Station Precinct will continue to play a major role in accommodating a fair share of South Perth’s anticipated population growth as the wider city moves towards a population of 3.5 million people by 2050, whilst also ensuring that its special qualities are respected and enhanced.
The consultant team for the project was led by Hatch (formerly known as Roberts Day) and included experienced professionals from Donaldson + Warn (architecture), EPCAD (landscape architecture), Colliers International (economics) and GTA Consultants (engineering and traffic).
Preparation of an Activity Centre Plan
The preparation of an activity centre plan was a recommendation of the Place and Design project. It was also required for District Centres by Part 5, Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) and State Planning Policy 4.2 Activity Centres for Perth and Peel (SPP 4.2).
The City prepared the South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP) and associated proposed Scheme Amendment No. 61 to former Town Planning Scheme No. 6 to set out the long term strategic vision and the statutory planning requirements for development in the area over a 10 year period. By guiding future development, movement and access, land use and built form within the activity centre, the City’s planning framework is well placed to ensure future development of the area can accommodate projected and required growth ensuring a functioning, sustainable and viable activity centre.
South Perth Activity Centre Plan project timeline
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
South Perth Peninsula Place & Design Report prepared | May 2017 |
Council resolves to prepare an Activity Centre Plan | June 2017 |
First draft Activity Centre Plan presented to Council. Resolved to further consider the draft plan, including built form and land use requirements. | October 2018 |
| Council workshops to further consider the draft Activity Centre Plan | December 2018-February 2019 |
Draft Activity Centre Plan approved by Council for public advertising | 6 March 2019 |
| Draft Activity Centre Plan approved by Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for public advertising | April 2019 |
Draft Activity Centre Plan advertised for public comment | 14 May to 22 July 2019 |
Draft Activity Centre Plan modified as required in response to any feedback received | August-November 2019 |
Updated Activity Centre Plan approved by Council | 17 December 2019 |
Activity Centre Plan, including modifications, referred to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) for approval | January 2020 |
| Amendment, including modifications, referred to the WAPC for approval and recommendation to the Minister for Planning | January 2020 |
| Minister for Planning decides to either: approve the amendment; modify the amendment; or refuse to approve the amendment | January 2021 |
| WAPC consideration of Activity Centre Plan for approval | March 2021 |
| Resubmission of Activity Centre Plan to WAPC for approval | October 2021 |
| Amendment forms part of the City of South Perth Town Planning Scheme 6 | December 2021 |
| Five year review scheduled to commence | 2026/2027 |
An activity centre is an area where there is a concentration of commercial, retail (including shopping, cafes, restaurants and bars) and residential land uses. Due to the land uses in activity centres they are also focal points in the transport network.
State Government planning policies encourage development in activity centres to improve services and business opportunities, increase housing close to jobs and services, and to improve the sustainability of the transport network by supporting walking, cycling and public transport.
The State Government has organised the activity centres within metropolitan Perth into a hierarchy, to inform and help coordinate the planning of these important areas. There are 50 activity centres within the central sub-region of Perth, with the central business district being the largest.
South Perth is classified as a district centre. District centres have a focus on servicing the daily and weekly needs of residents. They should aim to provide a local community focus and provide services, facilities and job opportunities that reflect the particular needs of their catchments. In South Perth, this includes recognising the location of the area adjacent to the Perth central business district.
The City, like the wider metropolitan region, faces significant planning challenges over the coming decades as our population, and therefore number of dwellings grow. The City’s population at the 2021 census was approximately 43,240. By 2031, it is expected to grow to 54,282. In response to anticipated population growth, the number of dwellings in the City of South Perth is expected to increase from 20,286 to 25,070.
In the past, the Perth metropolitan region has been able to accommodate a growing population by sprawling outwards and through lower density infill. Perth and Peel as a metropolitan region now stretches over 150km north to south and continuing with this approach to growth is not sustainable.
There is an expectation from the state that the majority of the population and dwelling growth will be located within and around activity centres, and along urban corridors. The State Government’s spatial plan for the Perth and Peel Regions Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million recognises this and has set a target for 47% of future growth to be accommodated through infill. The plan promotes targeting growth in locations that are well serviced by the required infrastructure, facilities and services to support the population, such as within activity centres, around transit-oriented precincts and along transport corridors.
The City recognises, plans for and implement strategies that best accommodate this expected growth whilst establishing and maintaining a consistent vision for the area.
The three major activity centres within parts of the City of South Perth are:
- South Perth (peninsula)
- Canning Bridge (part in the City of Melville)
- Bentley-Curtin (part in the Town of Victoria Park).
An Activity Centre Plan (ACP) is a document that provides the guiding framework for the planning and development of an activity centre. It does this by setting out the strategic vision for an area and the statutory planning requirements for development. An ACP guides the types of land uses and the overall development (including built form) that is intended to occur within the activity centre. It can detail land uses, environmental assets, residential density, built form, infrastructure and access arrangements.
ACPs are developed in accordance with the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (Regulations). Approval for an ACP is the responsibility of the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).
A precinct structure plan describes the intended zoning and subdivision pattern for a land area. Depending on the scale, a precinct structure plan identifies a pattern for street blocks, roads and open space together with proposed zones or land uses and major transport or utility infrastructure. A precinct structure plan provides development guidance for the built form and public realm.
A structure plan describes the intended zoning and subdivision pattern for a land area. Depending on the scale, a structure plan identifies a pattern for street blocks, roads and open space together with proposed zones or land uses and major transport or utility infrastructure.
A precinct structure plan is a more comprehensive document that addresses all the matters in a (standard) structure plan, and in addition, provides development guidance for the built form and public realm.
The South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP) was approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission on 21 December 2021.
Pursuant to Clause 28, Part 4, Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 Deemed provisions for local planning schemes, structure plans have effect for a period of 10 years from the date of approval.
The current population of the activity centre plan area is 2,675 people. This is forecast to grow to 4,750 people by the year 2031, and 7,500 people by 2041.
The City engaged expert consultants RPS to prepare a report on the potential for growth of the South Perth Activity Centre Plan, including assessment of projections for population, employment, floor space, tourists/visitors, and retail expenditure. This report outlines the most likely growth trajectory for the area over the 25 years from 2016 to 2041.
The scenario testing and modelling undertaken for the South Perth ACP examines the full economic and social potential of the area. This evidence base informs planning for new infrastructure and development of controls on land use and built form that manage and shape the expected demand. These controls and the infrastructure and services that are developed then become constraints on development that shape the actual growth of the area over the life of the plan.
More information on the forecast growth of the activity centre plan area can be found in Part 2 of the South Perth ACP. The full Economic and Demographic Assessment report is attached to the plan as Appendix 1.
A large amount of traffic modelling has been completed for the South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP) area and surrounding area over the past several years. The City engaged expert consultants FLYT to complete a report on the existing and forecast transport conditions within the activity centre plan area. The findings of this report are discussed in Part 2 of the Plan and the report itself is attached to the plan as Appendix 2 – Transport and Movement Analysis.
Overall, the street network in the activity centre area performs well under forecast growth scenarios and its configuration supports existing and future development as well as use by all transport modes. However, traffic forecasts show that the majority of road links in the area will be operating over capacity in peak times by 2031 unless a greater proportion of trips are made by non-car transport modes.
There is a strong focus in the South Perth ACP on reducing car use in the area. The ferry and bus services provide public transport options and the high quality public realm encourages pedestrians and cycling. Increasing the use of non-car transport modes is important to ensure that the transport network remains efficient as the local area and wider city grow.
The Perth-Mandurah rail line includes space within the railway reserve (between the tracks) near the end of Richardson Street to construct a South Perth station in the future. The future development of a train station has been incorporated into strategic planning for the area since the rail line was constructed in 2007including the South Perth ACP.
It is not known when a train station may be constructed, however a station would improve the accessibility of the area by public transport and would support higher urban densities within the activity centre.
Longer term development in accordance with the South Perth ACP will support the construction of a train station. Although the development of the station is not a direct objective of the activity centre plan, the development controls and other actions identified in the plan are expected to strengthen the case for a station to be built.
