People and communities
Enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of all people throughout Western Australia.
Policy and planning
Community consultation on Perth's future
In September 2003 we staged Dialogue with the city - the biggest community consultation forum of its type ever held in the southern hemisphere. More than just an event, Dialogue was a process of engaging the community in debate to develop a deliverable planning strategy for Perth, Mandurah and Murray with the goal of making Perth the 'world's most liveable city'.
The results of the forum have been published and work is well under way to make Perth an even better place to live.
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Read more about Dialogue with the city on the following pages:
Countering terrorism
The new global environment stemming from terrorist attacks around the world has led to stringent new measures to improve transport security.
To prepare for the requirements of the new regime being regulated by the Commonwealth, new international maritime security arrangements have been put in place and there has been a further tightening of aviation security. Land and surface transport falls within the jurisdiction of states and territories. Priority has been given to improving the security of mass transit passengers.
We have developed the Western Australian Transport Security Strategy that aims to reduce the likelihood of our transport system becoming a target for terrorism. The strategy was distributed to those involved in sea ports, airports and the rail, bus, coach, passenger vessel and trucking industries.
The Public Transport Authority has made changes to bus and train stations, employed more transit guards and integrated counter-terrorism plans with other operational plans. Digital cameras have been installed at all stations and images are monitored 24 hours a day. Similar security has been applied to the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.
Better taxi services
We worked closely with the taxi industry to develop a better standard of service. The consultation undertaken as part of the taxi review in the Perth metropolitan area resulted in a reform package which determined that:
- The industry would not be deregulated and there would not be a buy-back of taxi plates;
- Additional taxi plates would be issued by lease from the Government to meet customer demand;
- Fare and leasing rates would remain regulated;
- Maximum taxi plate lease rates would be reduced from $453 a week to $355; and
- The Taxi Act (1994) would be amended.
We offered another 48 taxi plates for lease to give drivers more opportunities to be owner-operators, meet increased demand for taxi services and reduce costs. Under the new lease arrangement, drivers will pay between $50 and $250 a week for their taxi plates, depending on the type of plate issued.
A review of the regulatory issues relating to country taxis has also been undertaken. A draft report has been prepared and distributed and final recommendations will be made to the Minister early in 2004-05.
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Read more about Taxi Services on the following pages:
We have been making the most of redevelopment opportunities close to existing infrastructure.
Sustainable planning
We have made sustainable planning a key focus during the year, and have worked hard to help the Western Australian Planning Commission improve the integration of sustainability into the state's planning and development processes. Forging partnerships with the development industry and local government to demonstrate and inform improved processes and practices has been a hallmark of our activities.
In partnership with local authorities, we completed a strategic integrated transport plan for the south west of the metropolitan region. The 70 recommendations in South West Metropolitan Integrated Transport Plan address personal transport issues, managing travel demand, integrating transport and land uses, improving public transport services and building new infrastructure.
Freight in the Wheatbelt
A study to consider a new east-west route connecting the Brookton, Albany and South West highways with the southern end of the proposed Tonkin Highway extension at Mundijong was undertaken to improve regional infrastructure. The study also assessed the wider freight task and considered a range of road and rail transport options. A set of strategies has been developed and will be released for public comment in 2005.
School bus route mapping
During 2002-03 we mapped the state's 655 regional school bus routes from as far north as Wyndham and south to Esperance using GPS technology. This award-winning project has since been extended to include 102 educational support bus routes and another 42 outer metropolitan bus routes.
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Read more about School Bus Services under An award-winning agency
Extending the northern suburbs rail line
We commenced a study to determine the best way to provide accessible and reliable public transport for the fast-growing northern suburbs. The Northern Suburbs Railway is being extended to Clarkson, but there is already evidence that additional public transport options are needed to service suburbs further north. The study will be completed in December 2004.
Integrated planning
In 2002-03, the Department was involved in the development of a National Charter on integrated transport and land use planning. Its principal objective is to achieve greater integration between land use and transport planning across agencies, jurisdictions and levels of government to help facilitate effective and sustainable urban and regional development throughout Australia.
The Department provided input into the development of the draft, which was endorsed nationally by both Ministers for Transport and Ministers for Planning in late 2003. The charter supports the State Government's position on sustainability in the transport sector through integrated land use and transport planning and balanced travel. The flexibility in implementation of the charter has enabled the use of its principles and objectives in our current transport and infrastructure policy development.
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Read more about Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning on the following pages:
Planning for housing demand
One of our priorities is to ensure Perth has an ample supply of land to meet the needs of its growing population, with a choice of housing types, location and affordability. The Urban Land Release Plan released in February 2004 indicated that more than 69,300 residential lots would become available in the next five years - mostly in the north-west and south-west sectors.
We have been making the most of redevelopment opportunities close to existing infrastructure such as rail lines and through the work of redevelopment authorities in East Perth, Subiaco and Midland. By 2008, more than 50 per cent of lots created in the metropolitan region will be within five kilometres of the coast.
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