The Liberal-National Government will establish four new regional planning committees in the State’s North to deal with major regional issues and projects.

Planning Minister John Day said the WA Planning Commission would establish regional planning committees for the Kimberley, Pilbara, the Mid-West and the Gascoyne.

“These committees will provide leadership and focus for planning and decision-making,” the Minister said.

“This initiative is long overdue. For too long, local government has been left to determine major regional issues and deal with major projects without any regional planning context. 

“This has led to delays, overlap and duplication among approval bodies; confusion and costs to industry and community groups; and land shortages.”

Mr Day said the regional planning committees were a potent vehicle to lead and deliver on the Liberal-National Government's regional priorities.

“These committees will allow regions to build capacity to respond to global, national and state influences and thereby help secure the prosperity of regional communities.

“Importantly, regional planning committees will provide a platform for a collaborative approach to planning. They will bring local governments and people into the heart of planning for their regions, provide a voice and real influence in the development. develop.”

Mr Day said strategic regional planning was a recommendation of the 2003 Keating reforms and was also reinforced in the 2008 Auditor General's examination into project approvals, which recommended accelerating regional planning across government. 

The Minister said the Gascoyne Regional Planning Committee would continue and expand the excellent work of the Ningaloo Sustainable Development Office and Ningaloo Sustainable Development Committee of recent years. 

“Contrary to recent statements made by the Labor Party, it represents an affirmation - not an abandonment - of the principles of responsible and sustainable development in this pristine part of WA,” Mr Day said. 

To offset the modest cost of these committees, the director general of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the WAPC chairman are working to rationalise the number of specialist WAPC committees and strengthen the governance of committees. 

The work of regional planning committees will be supported by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Regional Development Commissions and other agencies.   

Minister's office - 9213 6600

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