Swan Council Clears Planning Hurdles: Exempted Development Categories Slashed

Swan Council Clears Planning Hurdles: Exempted Development Categories Slashed

Word dropped in the latest gazette reveals the City of Swan has formally approved an amendment to its Local Planning Scheme No. 17, specifically removing a suite of previously exempted development categories from Schedule 5A. This isn't just bureaucratic tidying; it signals a notable shift in how property owners and developers will navigate approvals in one of Perth's largest and fastest-growing local government areas.

What happened

The City of Swan, through its Local Planning Scheme No. 17 Amendment No. 233, has deleted specific exempted development categories. This gazettal, a formal publication, means these changes are now officially part of the planning landscape. While the exact effective date isn't explicitly stated in the notice, its appearance in the gazette implies immediate or near-future implementation. This action by the City of Swan indicates a move towards more centralised oversight of development, reducing the scope for projects that could previously proceed without full planning approval.

What this means for you

If you're a property owner or developer in the City of Swan, this amendment directly impacts your bottom line and project timelines. Previously, certain minor developments or alterations might have been exempt from needing formal planning approval, allowing for quicker, cheaper build-outs. Now, those same projects will likely require a full development application, incurring additional costs, consultant fees, and extended waiting periods. This shift demands a thorough review of any planned projects to ensure compliance with the new, more stringent requirements. Planning consultants will also see an uptick in demand for navigating these newly complex pathways.

What this means for WA

This move by the City of Swan isn't an isolated incident. It echoes a broader trend across Western Australia where local councils are exerting greater control over development, often in response to community concerns or to better manage growth. We've seen similar tightening, for example, with Wanneroo and Serpentine Jarrahdale regulating short-term accommodation or Canning implementing new rules for Airbnb. This signals a policy direction under the Cook Labor Government where local planning frameworks are increasingly scrutinised and adjusted, potentially impacting housing supply strategies and the overall ease of doing business in property development across the state.

The numbers

The critical fact is the formal approval of Local Planning Scheme No. 17 Amendment No. 233 by the City of Swan. This single gazette entry fundamentally alters the planning landscape by deleting specific exempted development categories from Schedule 5A. The direct consequence is that projects previously falling under these exemptions will now require a formal development application. While the government's stated aim, as seen in related Hansard discussions on bills, is often to streamline planning and boost housing supply, this specific action by the City of Swan suggests a more granular, localised tightening of controls. The lack of a specified effective date in the notice means developers need to assume immediate impact, highlighting the need for vigilance.

Find your own data

This is just one of thousands of gazette entries GovScanner tracks each year. Connect the GovScanner API to your own tools, or plug GovScanner into your AI assistant so it can watch WA government data for you. If you just want to poke around manually, the search dashboard is there too.