Greens Member for North Metropolitan Region Hon Alison Xamon MLC has warned distrust in the State planning system will continue to grow, if infill targets are applied without full community engagement and sound strategic planning.
Ms Xamon said people in the City of Subiaco – as well as the City of Nedlands – were outraged at the heavy-handed way the WAPC has amended Local Planning Scheme consultation documents to greatly increase R-codes across substantial portions of their Cities.
“The Greens are very supportive of the principle of urban infill – it is needed to prevent Perth from ever-expanding,” Ms Xamon said.
“But it needs to be done sensitively and with great consideration for existing residents’ sense of place.”
Ms Xamon said she had been contacted by a number of residents and community groups who are concerned about the future of their neighbourhoods.
She said her constituents in Subiaco had pointed out that a number of substantial developments were due to begin, including the redevelopment of the market site; the redevelopment of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and the Subiaco East plan.
“We have already seen the effect of poorly planned infill on a number of old areas of Perth, resulting in reduced tree canopy, and the loss of public space and well-loved landmarks that do not quite fit the criteria for heritage listing,” Ms Xamon said.
“This is often happening without the better public transport links, economic and cultural benefits which are supposed to come hand in hand with urban infill.”
Speaking in Parliament this week, Ms Xamon asked the Government to put on hold its review of the City of Subiaco’s Town Planning Scheme Number 5 (LPS5).
She said the City was on track to meet its infill obligations under Perth and Peel @ 3.5 Million.
“The WAPC’s substantial changes to LPS5 with no public explanation is arbitrary and unwanted by the community,” Ms Xamon said.
