Tourism Planning Taskforce Report - Western Australian Planning ...

Chapter 8Taskforce recommendationsfor tourism purposes. This will have benefits inrespect to sites identified as suitable fortourism only and those that no longer have animportant tourism function and can be zonedfor alternative purposes.The principal components of therecommended policy are:• The preparation and approval of localtourism planning strategies or specifictourism components within local planningstrategies by local government as aframework for decision-making on tourismproposals. The tourism planning strategywill need to identify strategic tourism sitesand/or locations to provide for the retentionand future development of a range oftourist accommodation in that locality, andsites suitable for tourism development witha residential component.• A scheme amendment proposal that wouldresult in the loss of a tourist zoned site orintroduction of residential use todevelopment of a tourist zoned site mustaddress the function of the site in meetingfuture tourism demand in that locality.• The provision of guidelines to assist localgovernment in the development of localtourism planning strategies, includingapproaches to retaining and providing arange of accommodation types, and criteriafor identification of strategic andnon-strategic sites.• Local governments are to be assisted by,and consult with, Tourism WA and theDepartment for Planning and Infrastructure(DPI) in preparation of the local planningstrategy tourism component.• Introduction of an extended range ofdefinitions for tourism developments withspecific reference to length-of-stayprovisions.• The introduction of a range of touristzonings to promote the retention of a rangeof tourist accommodation facilities andrecognise the long-term tourism potential ofsome sites.• The use of Special Control Areas in townplanning schemes to introduce specificrequirements in respect to strategic sitesand/or strategic locations.• Modifications and additions to WAPC policyin respect to the use of strata schemes forthe subdivision of tourist zoned land.The use of the phrase “land zoned for tourismpurposes” in the recommendations refers tothat land where the zoning provides that thesole or predominant use is restricted to touristaccommodation and/or tourism developmentpurposes.8.1.1 State Planning PolicyA State Planning Policy (SPP) is the highestorder of planning policy. It is a statutory policymade under section 5AA of the Town Planningand Development Act 1928 and is approvedby the Minister and the Governor prior togazettal. An SPP may make provision for anymatter that may be the subject of a townplanning scheme and generally is concernedwith planning controls and to co-ordinate andguide planning and decision-making by Stateand local government and the Town PlanningAppeal Tribunal.The preparation of an SPP that incorporatesthe taskforce recommendations will requirethat the subject matters are given due-regardby the WAPC and local government inpreparing planning strategies, schemes and inmaking decisions on planning matters. Thiswill strengthen the implementation of thetaskforce recommendations through thestrategic planning framework and theconsideration of individual developmentproposals.Recommendation 1:That the WAPC prepare a State PlanningPolicy under s5AA of the Town Planning andDevelopment Act 1928 on Land Use Planningfor Tourism which is based on, and providesthe definitive mechanism for, implementationof the taskforce recommendations.8.1.2 Local planning strategiesLocal governments are responsible for thepreparation and review of Town PlanningSchemes for their area. The Town PlanningAmendment Regulations 1999 require thatwhen a local government proposes a townplanning scheme that envisages the zoning or64 Tourism Planning Taskforce Report