THE statutory planning committee has endorsed a recommendation of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) to approve the Brabham Stage 3 LSP with stage 1 expected to start next year.

When the statutory planning committee – it supports the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to undertake its statutory planning functions – met on December 11 Paul Morgan from Peet said the market would be strong for some time in the corridor.

Mr Morgan said this was why they were keen to progress a second development front, which fell within the structure plan area and they were looking to start that in early 2025.

“Importantly as part of that we will deliver important diversity in lot product and affordability in this market that is becoming more of an issue and we’ll also be focused in this area adjacent to the future train station to deliver more opportunities around sustainability, innovation and density as we interface with that train station.’’

CLE Town Planning and Design owner and director and WAPC board member Jane Bennett, who is  leaving the DevelopmentWA board this year and was presenting as a private resident and not as WAPC board member said the stage 1 residential component would most likely start in the north east corner.

The statutory planning committee members acknowledged the written submissions from residents and the Urban Bushland Council, Bushmead Conservation Cobbers and Blackadder Woodbridge Catchment Group, which raised issues regarding environmental concerns, particularly relating to drainage and rising ground water.

But the statutory planning committee minutes said members were advised by DPLH that the structure plan was sufficiently supported by technical information including a water management strategy as well as other environmental reports provided by state government agencies and that no fundamental concerns had been raised by any state government agencies.

Members were also advised that the LSP was supported by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and that the applicant would be required to complete a water management plan as part of the subdivision process.

Members were further advised that the developer had federal approval for the removal of trees on the site, that the structure plan was in line with this approval and that DPLH had recommended modifications to require a tree retention plan to be submitted as part of the subdivision approval process which was required to address the alignment of roads to ensure tree retention was maintained.