A MONTH on from the March council resolution to support an independent review of their planners’ application of state planning framework, residents are calling for faster action.

At the April 8 council meeting, The Vines resident and former Labor minister Gavan Troy said multiple community organisations across the City of Swan were concerned with a lack of action on the planning review by council administration.

He said the worries concerned several steps that needed to happen before the review could even begin, meaning every day of delay ate into time needed to finish it by September.

“One, the establishment of a council committee, two, the determination of the terms of reference by that committee,” he said.

Mr Troy said he didn’t believe the second step was an appropriate role for City of Swan staff as the review concerned their performance and could pose a conflict of interest.

“Three, public advertisement of the task, four, interview and selection of the external party, (and) five, briefing of the selected external party,” he said.

“Thus, every delay in undertaking the foregoing steps is a significant intrusion on the actual time available to conduct the review.

“One can understand the reluctance of staff to willingly participate in a review of their own performance by an external party, particularly with the terms of reference issue.

“We therefore offer a draft listing of the terms of reference developed within our group that establishes the minimal requirements expected of such a review.”

Mr Troy outlined five expectations from the community groups.

He said the groups expected the review to check whether the City of Swan’s planning department has been following the state’s planning rules properly especially for the inland northeast area around Swan, which he says has different needs to the coastal suburbs closer to the city.

This comes after months of new reports from long-time residents of extensive and severe flooding across properties in Swan that previously did not have the issue.

Swan Valley flooding issues need govt intervention says Spagnolo reported Guildford-based MLC Anthony Spagnolo wrote to the premier calling for state action on the ongoing flooding issues affecting Swan Valley landowners.

Swan Communities Environmental Alliance vice chair Jan Zeck had toured the Dayton area and surrounds with Echo News to show the extent of persistent flooding back in October, 2025.

Ms Zeck said the Swan Valley’s predicament was a result of not considering the type of soil developers were building on top of and the lack of a unified masterplan for how the drainage would work.

The sandy clay soil type meant water could not seep deep enough to allow infiltration to direct water away effectively, leading to raised water tables and persistent flooding.

Infiltration not a feasible strategy: SCEA vice chair reported the unmanaged flooding issues would incur costs down the line for ratepayers as it would damage infrastructure.

Reports from The Vines also recorded residents unhappy with how housing requirements were overruling “sound planning” as reported in Calls for review of the City of Swan’s planning department.

“The prime requirement of this review is to undertake an independent examination and assessment of the City of Swan’s planning process, procedures, report preparations, and delegations of authority within the planning framework of the state,” Mr Troy said.

“The review must give appropriate attention to the written word and intent of the state’s planning framework and not be deterred by the interpretations of state-appointed personnel serving the state planning agencies.

“The review will… consider the distinct inland aspect of the northeast metropolitan area.

“The review will provide advice on possible additional considerations that should lead to improved planning outcomes.

“The review and subsequent report will consider the performance of the City of Swan’s planning department from January 1, 2020 up to one month prior to the completion date of the review report.

“(We expect) to have the review adequately addressed by September and provide time for full council consideration in December.”

City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson thanked Mr Troy for his statement to council.