Government reveals the 10 Perth train station areas to get higher density housing

The Western Australian State Government has launched a major planning reform program in an attempt to overcome Perth’s housing crisis and redress its reputation for being a low density city beset by urban sprawl.

The Roger Cook Government announced that improvement plans and schemes will be established in up to an 800-metre radius around the 10 train stations to facilitate housing development and enhance consistency in planning and decision-making.

The 10 locations are: Ballajura, Bassendean, Carlisle/Oats Street, Claisebrook, Cottesloe, Glendalough, Morley, Mosman Park, Redcliffe and Swanbourne. More are expected to be announced in the future.

Planning and Lands Minister, John Carey, said these precincts will “supercharge” the delivery of more supply in targeted locations.

“While some councils have done great work and embraced a reform agenda, many have lacked the ability, the will or both to drive the change we need to get more housing out the door.

“We are stepping in to ensure a consistent and streamlined approach to deliver vibrant, mixed-use precincts within walking distance to train stations.

“This initiative is one way we are streamlining and simplifying the planning system to accelerate housing supply.”

Perth remains the Australian capital with the highest percentage of detached houses, which make up just over three quarters of all dwellings.

Highgate, East Perth, and Scarborough are among Perth’s most dense suburbs, and the state government is hoping to deliver more unit living to an array of suburbs previously resistant or unmotivated to increase density.

Greater Perth’s density is around 360 people per square kilometre. This is lower than larger cities like Sydney (approx. 442 people/sq km) and Melbourne (approx. 516 people/sq km).

The new schemes could test the government’s relationships with local councils who will relinquish some of the planning powers. The state, through the WA Planning Commission, is now established as the body that sets the height and zoning density settings within the precincts, and as the responsible decision-maker.

Perth’s low density lifestyle

Tanya Steinbeck, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia in WA, said the Western Australian Government’s decision may stir up some dissent but was ultimately justified.

“The decision may be divisive, yet it is also necessary; we need all forms of housing across Greater Perth and our regions whether that be infill, brownfield, greenfield.

“We are not in a situation where we have an 'abundance' of housing - we are in a housing crisis.

Ms Steinbeck said density around transit oriented developments is essential and no one suburb or station should be exempt.

“This decision on its own will not magically make apartments appear overnight.

“It will be the cumulative impact of removing regulatory and prohibitive cost barriers that are impacting project feasibility, as well as strategic decision making that creates the environment for more density to be delivered by the private sector.

“When we have an abundance of housing that offers sufficient choice across the housing continuum, perhaps we could form a different view - that time is not now, all options on the table, all blockages removed.”

The plan is one that has been implemented in Melbourne and Sydney.

Perth’s low density is linked to higher private passenger transport energy use per person compared to denser international cities, making urban planning and increasing density a key sustainability issue for Perth.

On a global scale, Perth’s low density infrastructure is even more striking.

Perth’s urban area is larger than Berlin’s, but it has roughly half the population. New York City accommodates far more people within a smaller area (8,700 sq km for 17.8 million people versus Perth’s current 6,418 sq km metropolitan area for 2.4 million people).

In short, Perth is an outlier even within Australia for its low density and high reliance on single-family homes, and its density is a fraction of that of most major global cities. 

Mr Carey made it clear he knew there would be opposition from those concerned about high density living altering the fabric of their community.

“I understand there will be those local governments that will oppose this,” he said.

“We've got a choice; do we shake things up, cut red tape, make more housing available, or do we just put our head in the sand?

“My message to all local governments is this: do everything you can to cut and streamline housing approvals.

“There are good local governments, like the City of Stirling, that have demonstrated a preparedness to cut red tape.

“There are other local governments that have been dragging their heels, that oppose medium to high density, and have got low zonings.”

Local government blindsided by announcement

The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) says the community’s voices must still be listened to and denied councils “were dragging their feet”.

“All local governments had been doing their very best to address the housing crisis,” WALGA President, Karen Chappel, said on Perth radio.

“The government has made its decision and everyone is going to have to work with it but it’s important the community’s voices are still heard.

“The Planning Commission (WAPC) has said it will communicate with the community but now it has taken it out of the hands of local government it is critical the WAPC listens to those who are aggrieved with a decision or an outcome.”

She said the new scheme announcement came as a surprise to her organisation.

“It clearly further erodes the role of local government, we cannot deny that.

“We need to now ensure there are avenues for our residents to be heard.”

“We want everyone to have a home, that is a part of being Australian, and the government has chosen this tool to achieve that and we need to work with them as best we can.”