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A Local Planning Policy is a statutory document created by local governments to set clear expectations for areas within a local planning scheme area.  The Policy provides guidance to applicants, residents and decisions makers with regards to the built and natural environment that make up the existing and 'desired future character' of an area.

 Local governments retain control over the preparation and adoption of Local Planning Policies which is a useful tool to ensure that local planning frameworks reflect the particular values and needs of the community.

As Local Planning Policies are a statutory document, 'due regard' is given  for any development proposals and decisions made where a local planning policy relates. This means that the policy has to be considered in any decision making for the area in which the policy applies.

The Western Australian Planning Commission are only involved in the referral and endorsement of Local Planning Policies where a State Planning Policy, such as the R Codes is augmented. It is anticipated that no involvement will be required as the intent of the policy is not planning to augment any State Planning Policy.

No. 60 McCabe Street, Mosman Park (Rocky Bay's current site) is a Local Scheme Reserve with the land designated to be used for Social Care Facilities. Rocky Bay, a Disability Service Provider has operated from this site for many years serving the needs of the local community and beyond.

Rocky Bay has advised that the subject site is not considered to be able to meet the future needs of the service provider.  This has resulted in Rocky Bay considering alternative locations that can provide a larger site to facilitate future demand and capacity more regionally for the Perth Metropolitan Area.

Approval from the Minister for Planning has been granted for the sites designated use of Social Care Facility, to be removed from part of the Rocky Bay site. The site also has approval to be subdivided into 2 lots.  

Lot 1 of the subdivision has retained the independent housing facilities associated with Rocky Bay and also retains the Social Care Facilities as its designated use for that land.  Lot 2 has had the designation removed, and expressions of interest for its sale will likely be publicly notified in the near future.

By participating in the consultation process and completing the survey, it is an opportunity for you to influence the development of the Local Planning Policy to help form the existing and desired future character statements for this site.

It is also important to note, that although the Town is developing a Local Planning Policy to guide the expectations for redevelopment of the site, the Town is not the decision maker for future applications to rezone the site.

A precinct boundary map for the Rocky Bay area has been established to accompany the Local Planning Policy which identifies the area that the Local Planning Policy applies to.

The map includes a ‘core’ which is the boundary of the Rocky Bay site and a ‘frame’ being the sites surrounding the Rocky Bay site within the Precinct boundary.  If you do not live within the precinct boundary, your views are still important to us! Participation and involvement is key.

We have defined the boundary with reference to State Planning Policy 7.2 Precinct Design Guidelines, including consideration for existing land use pattern and zoning, natural and open space areas, and capturing all immediately adjoining sites where potential impact may be anticipated. 

Analysis of the area within the precinct boundary will be undertaken by gathering qualitative and quantitative information which will assist to inform character statements to describe the existing character of the precinct area.

The 'desired future character' statements' will be formulated using survey results and comments gathered from the community through the consultation process.  

It is likely that a developer will make an application to State Government for the current zoning of the Rocky Bay site to be changed in order to develop it as it is not currently appropriately zoned for Residential purposes.

The policy will provide clear expectations on what the desired future character of the site is, to fit within the existing context and character of the McCabe precinct area. The Town is not the decision maker in considering what the most suitable zoning is for the site, therefore it is important to have a 'vision' which can be provided via a Local Planning Policy.  

Any application to state government for rezoning should demonstrate that 'due regard' has been given to the Local Planning Policy and the Town's Strategic Planning position to assist State Government in the decision making process. This means that if the Town is setting the vision for the Precinct, it will help inform any future developer of the expectations with respect to future built form and natural areas for the precinct.

Although the Town of Mosman Park are not the decision makers regarding the zoning and land use changes that could occur, the Town is required to accept and assess any applications to amend the local planning scheme, prior to referring a recommendation to the State Government and Minister who are the ultimate decision makers in this process.

No formal documentation has been lodged with the Town at this time, so it is too early to provide any level of certainty to the community with regards to what the intentions are for the site and what it will look like in the future. 

The Town has developed similar Local Planning Policies in the Town for other precinct areas.

Local Planning Policy 20 was developed for the Town Centre Precinct and Local Planning Policy 21 was developed for the Wellington Street Precinct area.  Both of these policies were developed by utiltising the community's feedback in response to consultation and survey responses. This informed the development of high level character statements which identified the existing and desired future character for these areas.  

These policies provide transparency and guidance to proponents, the community and decisions makers to understand the expectations of the area with regard to development of a site within the precinct.  As Local Planning Policies are statutory documents, due regard to the policy is required to be demonstrated in any development application and decisions made within the precinct area.

There are a number of ways we will keep you updated on the progress of this community consultation:

• Email - if you have registered via YourSay and/or completed this survey, you will be added to our YourSay mailing list. Updates on the project (when available) will be sent directly to your inbox.
• Town of Mosman Park website - any news will be updated here
• Talk of the Town e-newsletter - subscribe to our monthly digital newsletter here
• Social media - follow us on Facebook for real-time updates