FAQs

A Structure Plan is a planning document which guides future land use and development for an area and is one of the first steps in the development of new urban areas.  A Structure Plan indicates the way in which an area is to be developed and provides a framework to guide Council when it considers subdivision and development proposals.

A Structure Plan can show details such as housing density, road networks, areas of public open space and commercial areas.

The City or the owner of land may prepare and submit a Structure Plan.  In this instance, the proposed structure plan was submitted by consultants on behalf of the landowner.  

The City is required by the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 to advertise a Structure Plan.   This allows landowners and other stakeholders to consider the proposals and make a submission. 

Advertising the Structure Plan does not mean that the City supports the proposed amendment.  

If you want to provide comments on the proposed Structure Plan, you can do this by lodging a written submission, giving the reasons for your views on the proposed Structure Plan and your name, address and contact details.  

You can make a submission on this webpage or email your comments to the City at Kwinana Planning Team Planning.Team@kwinana.wa.gov.au or write to the City at:  PO Box 21, Kwinana WA 6966.

In assessing the proposed Structure Plan, the City of Kwinana must consider the planning merits of the proposal.   

The City therefore asks that comments be limited to those directly related to the planning merits or impacts of the proposed Structure Plan.    

Matters that cannot be considered valid planning reasons for objecting to a proposal include:

•  Perceived loss of property value
•  Private disputes between neighbours including access & egress and easements
•  Impact of construction work
•  Trade competition concerns (in most circumstances)
•  Matters that is controlled under other legislation  

The proposed Structure Plan includes technical appendices that show that the area is capable of being developed.  The Structure Plan documents relate to matters such as traffic movements and environmental considerations.  An assessment of these documents will be undertaken by City Officers during the advertising period.  These documents will also be reviewed by relevant state government stakeholders during the consultation period.  

Once the advertising period has concluded, the City’s Officers will review all of the submissions received.   A report to Council will then be prepared, which will include the Officers’ assessment of the proposed Structure Plan documents along with a recommendation whether to support the proposed Structure Plan or not.  The Council Report will also detail and respond to all submissions received during the consultation period.  

Council will consider the Officers’ report and subsequently provide a recommendation (within 60 days) to the Western Australian Planning Commission on whether the proposed Structure Plan should be approved by the Commission, with or without modifications.  

The Western Australian Planning Commission will make a final decision to approve (with or without modifications) or refuse the Structure Plan.  This process can take several months and the City will advise submitters of the Commission’s decision when it is known.  

If the Western Australian Planning Commission decides to approve the Structure Plan, it comes into effect immediately.  From this date, Council is to have due regard to, but is not bound by, the Structure Plan when considering any development applications received.