East Wanneroo District Structure Plan

Plan
The East Wanneroo district structure plan will guide the strategic development of more than 8,000 hectares of land in Perth's northern suburbs.
Last updated:

Background

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan provides a long-term vision for urban development in Perth鈥檚 north metropolitan corridor and is the culmination of extensive investigations and consultation with community, local and State government, and service providers.

The structure plan is a strategic instrument, guiding future land uses, coordination of major community infrastructure, development of activity centres, distribution of regional open space and the protection of environmental assets. It identifies the obligations to be addressed by subsequent planning stages and provides the basis for preparation of local structure plans.

Covering some 8,000 hectares of land, the structure plan area will ultimately accommodate around 150,000 people over the next 50 years.

Timeline

  • July 2021 鈥 The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan, including the District Water Management Strategy, is finalised
  • November 2020 鈥 The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) considers all of the submissions received and endorses the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan, subject to finalisation of the District Water Management Plan. View the 25 November 2020 .
  • September 2019 鈥 The draft East Wanneroo District Structure Plan is released for public comment; over 450 submissions received. See Frequently Asked Questions below for more information about the consultation.  

What happens next?

A series of changes to the existing planning framework 鈥 including amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme, preparation of infrastructure contribution plans and local structure plans 鈥 must be put in place before subdivision and development can commence.

A district-wide infrastructure contribution plan that will establish timeframes for delivery of arterial roads, district-level community facilities and groundwater management systems, is being prepared by the WAPC.

The district structure plan sets out the following three stages of anticipated development across the precincts, moving in a broadly west to east direction:

Stage 1 鈥 2021-2031        10,000 dwellings
Stage 2 鈥 2031-2051       20,000 dwellings
Stage 3 鈥 2051 +               20,000 dwellings

*See pages 39 and 41 of the district structure plan for more detail.

Contact us

For more information, please contact the East Wanneroo project team at ewdsp@dplh.wa.gov.au or on (08) 6551 9725.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan (DSP)

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan will guide the progressive urbanisation of East Wanneroo over the next 50 years.

It ultimately provides for a population of around 150,000 residents, approximately 50,000 homes and up to 20,000 new jobs.

The district structure plan area takes in the localities of Wanneroo, Mariginiup, Gnangara, Jandabup and Pinjar and delivers certainty to more than 1,650 landowners. It facilitates a coordinated development approach to ensure the future community is well designed and serviced, complete with local amenities and community facilities.

This long-term plan for the East Wanneroo area does not rezone the land 鈥 it sets out the steps that need to take place to allow for rezoning to occur.

What planning was undertaken prior to the 黑料正能量 commencing work on the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan?

East Wanneroo has been the subject of a number of studies over the years including The Future of East Wanneroo (2007) and the draft Gnangara Sustainability Strategy (2009).

A sub-regional level structure plan for the area was approved in 2011 and formed the basis of a major amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme which was finalised in November 2018, rezoning over 2,200ha of the area from Rural to Urban Deferred.

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan is informed by the Perth and Peel @3.5 million North-West Sub-regional Planning Framework and the following background studies:

  • District Water Management Strategy (March 2021)
  • Strategic Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment (May 2018)
  • Community Facilities Plan (April 2019)
  • East Wanneroo Economic Development and Employment Study (November 2018)
  • Environmental Assessment Study (October 2018)
  • Assessment of Proposed Environmental Outcomes (August 2019)
  • Engineering Servicing Report (January 2018)
  • Road Planning Study (August 2019)
  • Preliminary Environmental Assessment of Planning Investigation Areas (October 2018)

What consultation was undertaken in developing the plan?

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan was subject to extensive consultation, including:
  • establishment of a reference group comprising 36 local representatives, who helped to develop the vision and desired planning outcomes for the plan.
  • a public comment period which attracted 454 submissions
  • two local community information sessions
  • collaboration with the Whadjuk Working Party, as part of South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council
  • consultation with the City of Wanneroo, relevant State 黑料正能量 agencies and utilities providers
  • direct engagement with many landowners and community groups.

What changes have been made in the final structure plan following consultation?

Key changes made in the final East Wanneroo District Structure Plan are:
  • removal of 19.8ha of land from the parkland notation in Precinct 8
  • removal of a neighbourhood connector running north-south through Precinct 2
  • inclusion of an additional high school site
  • inclusion of additional text in respect of the management of water within the structure plan area;
  • precinct 11 has been moved from Stage 3 to Stage 1; and
  • a change in description of the industrial precincts (23 and 24), increasing their flexibility to make them 鈥榚mployment areas鈥 where land uses are to be compatible with a Priority 3* water quality protection status.

How soon will development occur?

There are a number of changes to the existing planning framework that need to be put in place before land within the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan area can be subdivided and developed.

This includes the formal reservation of land under the Metropolitan Region Scheme for the provision of parkland, an improved transport network, high schools and regional sports facilities, and the rezoning of land from Urban Deferred or Rural to Urban.

An infrastructure contribution plan also needs to be prepared to help fund items such as integrated arterial roads, district level community facilities and groundwater management systems. It is unlikely that the first local structure plans for individual precincts will be finalised before 2023.

How will new infrastructure be funded?

In Western Australia, the delivery of community infrastructure is a shared responsibility between State and local government and the development industry.

State Planning Policy 3.6 鈥 Infrastructure Contributions explains this process in detail.

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan requires infrastructure contribution plans to be prepared which will provide for the collection and disbursement of funds as land within the area is subdivided and developed.

An infrastructure contribution plan for the full district structure plan area will be prepared to help fund integrated arterial roads, district level community facilities, and groundwater management systems. When local structure plans are being prepared for individual precincts, a more localised infrastructure contribution plan may also be required to cater for the provision of local open space and drainage infrastructure.

Infrastructure contribution plans for East Wanneroo will be formally incorporated into the City of Wanneroo鈥檚 District Planning Scheme (No.2) and are subject to public consultation and approval by the Minister for Planning.

The structure plan is divided into precincts. What role do precincts have in planning and development for this district?

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan area is very large, covering over 8,000ha.

It has been divided into 28 precincts that take account of environmental, planning, water management and tenure considerations. Not all precincts will be developed and most of the eastern portion of the structure plan area will remain zoned Rural or State Forest.

Local structure plans will be required for precincts where there is a change to the current land use.  These plans will need to demonstrate how the new land use and character for each precinct will be delivered and will require approval by the WAPC before subdivision and development can occur.

What happens now? How will development progress?

The East Wanneroo District Structure Plan provides certainty for landowners in the area to progress divestment or development of their landholdings. 

Subsequent planning processes include amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme, preparation of infrastructure contribution plans and local structure plans.

A single local structure plan 鈥 that aligns with the district structure plan 鈥 will need to be submitted for each precinct by landowners and/or developers. Subject to the relevant planning and development approvals, civil works will be required to create the new subdivisions and developers will commence marketing of land for new residential housing.

The WAPC has begun the preparation of a district-wide infrastructure contribution plan which will establish the timeframes for delivery of arterial roads, district level community facilities and groundwater management systems.

The district structure plan shows that my land will be affected by a new regional reservation. What does this mean?

Land affected by new regional reservations will be the subject of future Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) amendments.

Main Roads WA will undertake the MRS amendment to create the reserve for the Whiteman Yanchep Highway and the WAPC will be responsible for reserving the land necessary for the Parks and Recreation areas and Integrator Arterial Roads.

Where land is identified as containing potential Parks and Recreation reserves and/or high schools, proponents undertaking local structure planning are responsible for requesting the appropriate amendments to the MRS. For more information, please refer to Clause 2.2.1 of Part 1 of the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan.

The land can remain in private ownership until it is needed for its reserved purpose. At the time of acquisition, an independent land valuer will carry out a valuation of the land to be acquired. The details of this process are explained in detail in the leaflet: Your Property and the Metropolitan Region Scheme.

My land is currently zoned Urban Deferred in the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan. What does this mean?

Large parts of the district structure plan are currently zoned Urban Deferred under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS).

Urbanisation of the area is expected to occur with the extension of existing water, wastewater and electricity services from the serviced urban areas to the west. This means that the areas zoned Urban Deferred are likely to be developed in advance of areas which are currently zoned Rural.

What was the rationale for including an additional high school in the final structure plan?

On the advice of the Department of Education, five public high schools were initially provided for across the 8,000ha East Wanneroo District Structure Plan area.

This accounted for the proximity of Wanneroo Secondary College which is located immediately west and could service part of the new community.

More recent data indicates the existing secondary college is already at capacity warranting the need for an additional high school site within the structure plan area. 

How is the natural environment protected under the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan?

The structure plan recognises the significant environmental and landscape values of the area, in particular the existing lake system, Bush Forever sites and the adjacent State Forest areas, and supports future development that enhances and protects these.

The plan proposes to create an additional 280 hectares of parks and recreation reserves, meaning that over 80 per cent of the area鈥檚 native vegetation will be protected.

Parklands in the structure plan area are centred around five existing lakes, with proposed links connecting the parklands with landscaped boulevards and adjacent development.

Collectively, this network of 鈥減arkland links鈥 also provides for continuous pedestrian and cyclist movement through the area and provision of a mature tree canopy. Most of the area鈥檚 wetlands are expected to be retained and integrated as part of the drainage network as development occurs, enabling their biodiversity values to be restored and enhanced.

Sidebar
Was this page useful?