THE Augusta-Margaret River Shire Draft District Town Planning Scheme No 1 and Local Planning Strategy have been approved subject to modification by the Western Australian Planning Committee and Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Alannah MacTiernan.
The shire said it could not provide any details of the modifications yet, but a report will go to Council at its July 16 meeting.
The Draft Scheme and LPS were forwarded to the WAPC in February 2007 following advertising and consideration of more than 800 submissions.
Shire president Steve Harrison thanked the DPI officers for their work on the Scheme.
“Although it has been a frustrating wait at times, we are aware that the DPI officers in Bunbury have many competing priorities for their time and that the complexities of each Scheme under consideration demand a lot of professional time and expertise,” Cr Harrison said.
“We very much appreciate the effort that has gone into getting our Scheme to this next stage in the process.”
At the June 25, 2008 Ordinary Meeting, Council asked shire officers to prepare a report on the changes required by the WAPC and Minister.
The Minister has supported Council’s request to re-advertise the Scheme and LPS for 60 days subject to the shire undertaking the changes prior to advertising.
Once advertised, the Scheme and LPS will be given further detailed consideration by planning staff taking into account all submissions received.
As the Scheme is progressing Council has decided not to initiate any further amendments to the existing town planning schemes.
Officers will advise Council on scheme amendments already being processed to consider whether it is more sensible to let them continue or incorporate them into the new Scheme.
“There is a fair amount of work ahead of us in preparing the documents for advertising,” Cr Harrison said.
“Everyone in the community will now have an equal opportunity to consider the draft Scheme in its current form and make comment through submissions.
“It is pleasing that we can now progress the Scheme.
“We had no doubts that we would reach this point in the process.
“Statutory planning processes sometimes call for a degree of perseverance and patience.”