The State Government has approved the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme, providing a plan for land use in the area, after a long process including consultation with the local governments of Bunbury, Capel, Harvey and Dardanup.
The State Government has approved the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme, providing a plan for land use in the area, after a long process including consultation with the local governments of Bunbury, Capel, Harvey and Dardanup.
The plan was designed to address the needs of the rapidly expanding population of the area, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said, while reserving nearly 17,000 hectares for conservation and regional open space.
"While there has been some localised objection, our view is that the majority of the community understand that this will protect the future of their natural environment and their needs for recreation areas," she said.
"If we want future generations to have access to the natural environment and recreational space, we need to plan now."
However Shadow Planning Minister and Member for Capel Steve Thomas said the scheme was out of date, and failed to tell people where new housing and industry would be built.
"This isn't a real plan," he said. "It's a plan to develop a plan."
The full text of the Minister's announcement is pasted below, followed by that of the Shadow Minister
The Western Australian Government has approved the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme (GBRS) to help meet the future demands of one of the nation's most rapidly growing regions.
This is the third statutory plan to be gazetted in WA and will ensure coordinated planning across local government boundaries.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today said the GBRS was designed to address the needs of Greater Bunbury, one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
"One of the key benefits of the scheme is the reservation of nearly 17,000 hectares for long-term conservation and regional open space, ensuring Greater Bunbury does not lose its prized landscape values," Ms MacTiernan said.
"Long-term planning is essential if the quality of life for everyone in the Greater Bunbury region is to be maintained.
"The region, covering the City of Bunbury and the Shires of Capel, Harvey and Dardanup, has a population that is projected to exceed 100,000 by 2031.
"This population growth will create pressures for urban and industrial land, regional infrastructure and conservation of the environment.
"Many land and infrastructure decisions will extend beyond individual local government boundaries.
"The GBRS will provide a statutory regional plan as a framework for decision-making and addressing competing and conflicting land use demands.
"The scheme now has the support of all four affected local authorities."
Ms MacTiernan said the WA Government had conducted an extensive consultation process with the Greater Bunbury community in developing the scheme.
"While there has been some localised objection, our view is that the majority of the community understand that this will protect the future of their natural environment and their needs for recreation areas," she said.
"If we want future generations to have access to the natural environment and recreational space, we need to plan now.
"The scheme, implemented 51 years ago, has ensured Perth has some of the best conservation and recreation facilities of any city in the world."
The Shadow Minister's announcement is pasted below
Poor planning by Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan has led to Western Australia's chronic shortage of housing and she has repeated her failure in the South West.
Announcing the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme - a process begun a decade ago - the Minister's proposed model failed to tell South West people where new housing and industry would be built.
Shadow Planning Minister Dr Steve Thomas said regional planning was essential but the Greater Bunbury Scheme was out of date and in need of complete overhaul.
"The model announced by Minister MacTiernan fails the critical tests of where housing and new industry will go," Dr Thomas said.
"The scheme, though well intentioned, falls far short of what the people of the South West need.
"I want to see an expanded regional planning model taking in the area south of Peel all the way to Busselton and including Collie.
"It must identify future growth of residential, commercial and industrial land.
"This would give certainty and security to the planning process.
"Unfortunately, the Minister's plan - the roots of which are a decade old - fail these requirements."
Dr Thomas said the failure to develop a proper plan could be laid squarely at the feet of the Minister's inability to attract enough planners to deliver it.
"This isn't a real plan," he said. "It's a plan to develop a plan.
"The South West deserves a real regional plan that tells everyone how a government will manage future growth."
