Local Planning Strategy and Town Planning Scheme No. 4 Review
The City of Armadale is responsible for the preparation and review of a Local Planning Strategy, which must be aligned with the State and Regional Planning Frameworks, and outline the long-term strategic planning directions for a 10 to 15 year period.
The Strategy also sets the directions and actions to inform a Local Planning Scheme, which is the operative statutory document to implement the strategic objectives and regulate the land use change and development of a local government area. Both the local planning strategy and local planning scheme are fundamental components of the City’s Local Planning Framework.
The current City of Armadale Town Planning Scheme No. 4 (TPS No. 4) has been in operation for over 20 years, and since the original gazettal on 4 November 2005, has been subject to over 120 scheme amendments. The City’s first Scheme Review (Audit) Report for TPS No. 4 was endorsed by the WAPC in August 2016, concluding that TPS No. 4 was functioning effectively at that time, subject to identified updates progressed in Amendment No. 86 gazetted in June 2017.
The current City of Armadale Local Planning Strategy 2016 (LPS 2016) was adopted by Council in September 2016, and the WAPC in December 2016, providing the planning intent for the City of Armadale for the following ten years up to 2025.
Information is available via Town Planning Scheme No. 4 and Local Planning Strategy (2016)
Endorsed Scheme Review (Audit) Report (2021)
State Planning legislation and practices have undergone significant changes over time, and all local governments are required to regularly review and update their local planning scheme to reflect changing demographic and needs of their community, and informed by a contemporary local planning strategy.
As a precursor to an identified scheme review, Council in May 2020 (Resolution D31/5/20) supported (in part) preparation of an engagement strategy and budget considerations. Council in October 2020 (Resolution D64/10/20) then endorsed a Community and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for preparation of the new Local Planning Strategy (LPS) and Local Planning Scheme No. 5 (LPS No. 5), to replace LPS 2016 and TPS No. 4.
As required under Schedule 1, Part 6 the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 (P&D Regulations 2015), the City completed a second, five-yearly audit on the operation and function of TPS No. 4 in 2021. The Scheme Review (Audit) Report (2021) recommended:
Preparation of a new Local Planning Strategy in accordance with the WAPC’s Local Planning Strategy Guidelines, October 2021 and the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 and Corporate Business Plan 2021-2024, and revoke LPS 2016 upon approval of the new strategy; and
Prepare a new Local (Town) Planning Scheme No. 5 pursuant to Regulation 66(3) of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 and revoke the current TPS No. 4 upon approval of LPS No. 5.
In December 2021 Council (Resolution D52/12/21) adopted the Scheme Review Report – City of Armadale Town Planning Scheme No. 4, for referral to the WAPC for endorsement. Council also resolved budget refinements to prepare a Bushfire Hazard Assessment to support the new LPS, and future budget provision for an Environmental Review Report to support new LPS No. 5.
Formal notice is hereby given that the WAPC in May 2022 considered the Scheme Review Report of the City of Armadale Town Planning Scheme No. 4 under r.67 of the P&D Regulations 2015 and agreed with the recommendations of the report (see below).
Preparation of Draft Local Planning Strategy
A competitive tender process conducted by the City during September and October 2021 resulted in appointment of planning firm Taylor Burrell Barnett (TBB) as the lead project consultant, supported by Urbaqua and Stantec, to prepare the new LPS. The City also appointed Ecological Australia, Bushfire Planning & Design (BPAD) Accredited Practitioners, to prepare a Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment to inform the new LPS.
The preliminary Phase One of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy was undertaken between May and September 2022, including an online community survey and four community vision workshops conducted by the City and TBB, plus four Community Open Days also held at major shopping centres.
The outcomes of the engagement activities presented in the Vision, Values and Objectives Community Engagement Report has shaped the City’s future planning directions and actions in the draft LPS and preparation of the new LPS No. 5.
Following a series of workshops with elected members, Council on 25 November 2024 (Resolution D2/11/24) approved the Draft Local Planning Strategy (Parts 1, 2 and Appendix A Bushfire Hazard Assessment) for submission to the WAPC for advertising certification, and a requested extended 42-day public advertising period.
November 2024 Council Minutes – Approval of Draft Local Planning Strategy
Draft Local Planning Strategy – Part Two: Background Information and Analysis
Draft Local Planning Strategy Appendix A – Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment
The draft LPS aims to implement the State Government’s South Metropolitan Peel Sub-regional Planning Framework, and guide expected growth and development for the next 15 years, with the population forecast to reach approximately 143,319 people by 2040.
The draft LPS will be the key strategic land use planning document, implementing the City’s Strategic Community Plan 2026 - 2035 and Corporate Business Plan 2025/26 – 2028/29, and reflects outcomes from preliminary elected member and community feedback.
The City of Armadale has developed the following strategies, plans, and documents that also have land use planning implications and/or relevance to the draft LPS:
Next Steps
The City of Armadale submitted the draft LPS in late 2024 to the DPLH for assessment and consideration by the WAPC for advertising certification, with the City and DPLH staff currently working through preliminary matters. Subject to any required modifications, formal consent to advertise is expected in early 2026.
Public submissions will then be invited by the City during the formal public advertising period, expected in early to mid-2026, with the feedback to guide adoption by Council, any final modifications, and ultimate endorsement of the WAPC anticipated in late 2026.
Staging Programme for new Local Planning Strategy
Preparation of the new Local Planning Strategy has progressed through Stages 1 to 5, with Stages 6 and 7 underway and more to come:
Stage 1
Council adoption of TPS No. 4 (and Local Planning Strategy 2016) Scheme Review (Audit) Report (Q4 2021) and WAPC adoption
Q2 2022
Stage 2
Initial Research and Background Review – Councillor Workshop No. 1
Q1-Q2 2022
Stage 3
Preliminary Community and Stakeholder Engagement on Vision, Values and Objectives
Q2-Q3 2022
Stage 4
Preparation of draft Local Planning Strategy
Q1 2023 to Q2 2024
Stage 5
Council Workshops and Adoption of draft Local Planning Strategy for Public Advertising
Q3-Q4 2024
Stage 6
Submission to DPLH for WAPC’s Certification for Public Advertising
Q1-Q2 2025
Stage 7
Modifications to Draft Local Planning Strategy and final WAPC approval to commence Public Advertising
Q3 2025 – Q1 2026
Stage 8
Formal Public Advertising, Consideration of Submissions, and Council Adoption
Q1-Q2 2026
Stage 9
Lodgement with WAPC for Final Approval and Publication
Q3 2026
Stage 10
Final approval of Local Planning Strategy and superseding of Local Planning Strategy (2016)
Q4 2026
Preparation of new Local Planning Scheme No. 5
With Council adoption of the Scheme Review Report (December 2021) and agreement by the WAPC in May 2022, and Council’s endorsement in November 2024 of the draft LPS, preliminary drafting of new LPS No. 5 will commence soon.
Detailed preparation of draft LPS No. 5 and an Environmental Review Report (if necessary) will be undertaken by the City, pending WAPC certification for advertising of the draft LPS. Draft LPS No. 5 will be presented to Council in due course, then lodged with the WAPC and the Minister for Planning, prior to formal public advertising in 2026.
Staging Programme for New Local Planning Scheme No. 5
Preparation of the new LPS No. 5 has progressed through Stages 1 and 2, with Stages 3 to 9 still to come:
Stage 1
Council adoption of Scheme Review Report Recommendations
December 2021
Stage 2
WAPC agreed with Scheme Review Report Recommendation to Prepare a new Scheme
May 2022
Stage 3
Preparation of draft LPS No. 5 (Text and Maps) for Council adoption for advertising
Q3 2025 to Q1 2026
Stage 4
Draft LPS No. 5 lodged with EPA to assess Environmental Impacts and WAPC for consent to advertise from the Minister for Planning
Q2-Q3 2026
Stage 5
Public Advertising, Consideration of Submissions and Council Adoption
Q4 2026 – Q2 2027
Stage 6
Stage 6 - Draft LPS No. 5, submissions and recommended modifications lodged with WAPC for Assessment
Q3-Q4 2027
Stage 7
Final modifications by the City and lodgement with WAPC for Approval of the Minister for Planning
Q1 2028
Stage 8
WAPC Recommendation to Minister for Planning for Final Approval
Q2 2028
Stage 9
Gazettal of LPS No. 5 and superseding of TPS No. 4
Q2-Q3 2028
Important Note: Preparation of the both the new Local Planning Strategy and Local Planning Scheme No. 5 requires State Government approval at several stages, and the estimates provided in the above programmes are dependent upon the timeliness and content of such approvals.
Stage 1
State Government’s WAPC endorses Council’s Scheme Review Report (June 2022) and new Local Planning Strategy (June 2024)
Stage 2
City prepares TPS No.5 (Maps and Text) for Council endorsement (for consultation)
Q3 -Q4 2024
Stage 3
State Government’s EPA assess environmental impacts of draft TPS No. 5
Q4 2024 -Q2 2025
Stage 4
State Government’s WAPC endorses draft TPS No. 5 for advertising
Q3 - Q4 2025
Stage 5
City advertises TPS No. 5 for public comment and submits final TPS No. 5 and public submissions to WAPC
Q1 -Q2 2026
Stage 6
WAPC requires changes prior to endorsing final approval and City resubmits modified TPS No. 5 to WAPC
Q4 2026 - Q2 2027
Stage 7
WAPC recommends final approval to the Minister
Q2 -Q4 2027
Final Gazetted TPS No. 5 is in force and implemented through Council decisions
Q4 2027 - Q2 2028