Local Planning Strategy adopted

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River Council has adopted a new local planning strategy to guide land use and population change across the region over the next 15 years.

The new strategy was adopted by Council on 12 May and is now awaiting final approval from the Western Australian Planning Commission.

Shire Manager Planning and Development Services Matt Cuthbert said development of the strategy had been guided by an extensive consultation process to ensure it was in line with community aspirations and values.

“The strategy explores a number of issues and actions that came directly from the consultation process,” he said.

“This not only helped formulate a robust strategy, but it gives the community a greater sense of ownership over planning for the region’s future.”

The strategy focuses the Shire’s attention on areas of importance, such as landscape, character and the natural environment.

These areas will be supported by refocusing planning intervention away from low-risk development and shifting it to developments that pose a real risk to community amenity, environmental conservation and landscape character.

Mr Cuthbert said a key point of difference from its 2011 precursor was that this strategy did not identify new land for development and instead focused on accommodating population change through better use of land already committed to future development.

See a full copy of the new strategy here.

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