Planning Minister John Day today confirmed the Liberal-National Government’s confidence in the Pilbara region being prepared for an economic recovery spurred by the Gorgon gas project.

Mr Day, who spoke on the issue in State Parliament today, said more residential lots were available today than in the lead up to the last economic recovery in 2006-07.

“In the last financial year, conditional approval was given to 968 residential lots.  As at June 2009 there were 1,635 residential lots with current conditional subdivision approval in the Pilbara,” he said.

“These figures compare with data from 2006-07 which show there were 873 lots conditionally approved in that year and a total of 1,036 lots with current conditional subdivision approval.

“While I am not suggesting the land availability issues have been completely resolved, these figures show we are making good inroads.” 

The Minister said the Liberal-National Government would continue to improve the approvals process for major projects, streamlining planning approvals and reforming planning instruments including legislation.

“I recently announced various planning reform initiatives, including plans to set up development assessment panels throughout the State. These panels will play an important role in regional Western Australia,” he said. 

Under the proposal, any development in the Pilbara costing more than $1million (except single houses, grouped or multiple dwellings under 10 units, and minor applications) will be assessed by a joint panel made up of elected local government representatives and specialists. 

“These panels will ensure that development of community benefit and architectural merit will not be held up in the approvals process,” Mr Day said.

The Minister has also announced Regional Planning Committees for the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid-West and Gascoyne would be established.

The Pilbara Regional Planning Committee, to convene for the first time later this year, would deliver a more comprehensive regional planning framework and give impetus to regionally-based planning.

A major function of the committee will be to make recommendations to the Government on infrastructure priorities in the region.

“This committee will review public submissions made in response to the draft Pilbara Regional Profile,” Mr Day said.

“This document provides a spatial planning profile for the Pilbara. It also provides the background and rationale for the Pilbara Framework, which will set out the strategic direction for the Pilbara region and assist State Government investment in infrastructure and provide the context for local government planning in the region. 

“It is anticipated the Pilbara Framework will guide Pilbara regional infrastructure planning and facilitate planning for expansion of major townsites.”

The Department of Planning (DoP) is also assisting many local governments in the Pilbara to develop local planning strategies to assist them to cope with population growth.

In the Shire of Roebourne, the DoP is helping to progress a Local Planning Strategy and the Karratha Townsite Strategy. Also, Landcorp has been asked to identify how it could provide 1,000 lots per year over the next five years in Karratha.

In Port Hedland, DoP will assist in implementing Port Hedland’s land use master plan which will provide strategic guidance for the growth and development of Port Hedland for the next 20-25 years.

In South Hedland, the revitalisation project, which comes under the Royalties for Regions Scheme, will see up to 600 new home sites being brought onto the market.

For Onslow, DoP and Landcorp are assisting the local shire prepare a townsite strategy to accommodate population growth associated with the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area.

In Tom Price, the Tom Price Townsite Strategy, which is under preparation, will lay the foundations for a town of up to 5,000 people.

“This Government has a very clear mandate to do what it can to ensure the Pilbara region and the State are well prepared, from a planning perspective, for the next sustainable economic recovery,” the Minister said.