Western Australia

WEST Australian Planning Minister, John Day, released a new planning vision and direction for Perth and Peel on Monday to guide the planning of the city to 2031 and beyond, saying it sets out clear objectives and is realistic and achievable.

The spatial planning framework, 'Directions 2031 and beyond', was launched by Mr Day at a Planning Institute Australia (PIA) forum, and was presented as a significant evolution in metropolitan strategic planning.

THE West Australian Government this week announced that it had made "significant progress towards planning system reform", with the passing of new legislation by Parliament.

Planning Minister John Day said the Approvals and Related Reforms (No.4) (Planning) Bill 2009 would modify the Planning and Development Act 2005 to make Western Australia's planning system more transparent, consistent and efficient.

THE transformation of a former industrial site near the Fremantle city centre is a step closer this week, with the government announcing the selection of the Knutsford Consortium as preferred partner.

The Knutsford project is proposed to be a high-quality residential precinct, with a mix of densities and housing types and styles.

Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said the submission by the Knutsford Consortium – which includes Fini Group, Georgiou Capital and Mainpart Holdings – was particularly strong in design quality, accommodation diversity, affordability and environmental leadership.

THE West Australian government today called for Expressions of Interest to develop the four-hectare riverfront site between the WACA ground and the Causeway.

Planning Minister John Day said this was the first inner-city riverside development opportunity to be delivered to the market since East Perth Redevelopment Authority's (EPRA) Claisebrook Village development in the 1990s.

THE West Australian government yesterday finalised an agreement between Delfin Lend Lease and LandCorp to begin the first stage and master planning of Alkimos, described as the biggest and most significant coastal development north of Perth in 50 years.

Located 40 kilometres north of Perth's CBD, the Alkimos Eglinton area will provide homes for up to 50,000 people.

A PLAN to transform Karratha into a "world-class City of the North", with a potential population of 50,000, was launched today by the State Government and the Shire of Roebourne.

Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said the launch of the plan was a major step in delivering the State Government's Pilbara Cities vision for Karratha, which is located over 1,500 kilometres north of Perth and approximately 850 kilometres south of Broome.

A "visionary" blueprint to revitalise Newman, double its population and transform the town into a major sub-regional service centre has been launched by the State Government and the Shire of East Pilbara.

Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls presented the Newman Revitalisation Plan to the local community, as the first step towards ensuring Newman's long-term economic future and improving the lives of its residents.

THE LANDS Minister for Western Australia, Brendon Grylls, has invited Newman residents to comment on "a visionary new plan" which aims to develop the town into a major regional hub of 15,000 people.

As part of the WA Government's Royalties for Region's 'Pilbara Cities' initiative, the draft Newman Revitalisation Plan was developed by LandCorp and the Shire of East Pilbara in order to guide the town's future growth.

Mr Grylls said "the plan sets a direction for the evolution of Newman into a dynamic, diverse, attractive and liveable town that people will be proud to call home... It includes strategies on how Newman will cater for a larger permanent population, how it will encourage more business and economic diversity, and the amenities needed in the future... In particular, it seeks to deliver greater housing diversity to help overcome affordability issues and encourage fly-in/fly out workers to settle in Newman."

A FORMER industrial site near Fremantle city centre is set to be transformed, with the WA Government announcing that it has shortlisted three development partners.

Lands Minister Brendon Grylls announced the shortlist of three preferred development partners for the Knutsford urban renewal project. He said that the shortlisted development partners "were selected from a very competitive field of some of the nation's foremost designers, in partnership with some of Australia's premier developers."

The shortlist consists of:

• Knutsford Consortium (Georgiou Group / Fini Group / Mainpart Holdings);
• Match Group; and
• Australand.

THE WESTERN Australian Government this week announced it would replace half of Transperth bus fleet, with a plan to purchase of at least 650 buses over the next decade. The Government said its plans "represented a significant commitment to the future of the State's public transport network."

The Government said that in 2009, there were more than 73.9 million individual bus trips made on Transperth buses.

The replacement program will result in the oldest models being retired with new models. WA Premier Colin Barnett said the new buses are to have improved safety features, disability access and environmental friendliness. He also said the Government would consider Euro5 diesel systems, compressed natural gas vehicles and hybrid technology.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said the plan would also have positive flow-on effects to the local economy.