The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) supports the state government’s decision to suspend work on producing a ‘Green Growth Plan’ for Perth and Peel as it could have significant implications for housing affordability and future development in the region.
The Strategic Assessment of Perth and Peel (SAPPR) was commenced by the previous government in 2011 with the aim of producing a Green Growth Plan (GGP) that identified the urban development footprint and conservation areas in the region for the next 30 years.
“While UDIA was supportive of the original intent of this project, we have raised major concerns about the GGP in recent years as the scope and implications have evolved,” UDIA CEO Allison Hailes said.
“Whilst the Plan seeks to secure environmental values in the region, there will also be a range of economic and social impacts for land development and new home buyers that need to be better understood before the Plan goes further,” Ms Hailes said.
“UDIA is concerned that given the scope of the project, in terms of the sheer size of the land area it encompasses and the broad range of matters it seeks to address, the impacts on future infrastructure development and affordability will be far greater than initially anticipated,” Ms Hailes said.
“There has been a serious lack of engagement with stakeholders in recent years, which is concerning given the ambitious reach of the project and we have no idea how the new requirements will be incorporated into the current planning system” Ms Hailes said.
“What is even more concerning is that to date no cost estimates to implement the GGP have been released. We believe there will be significant cost for both government and the private sector, with some experts estimating it could be more than $2 billion over the next 10 to 15 years,” Ms Hailes said.
“At the end of the day, any costs associated with the Plan will end up being passed on to new home buyers in one way or another,” Ms Hailes said.
“At a time when affordability remains a critical issue for WA, we do not want to see yet another layer of cost burden piled on to new home buyers,” Ms Hailes said.
“Following our advocacy on this issue, we welcome the government’s decision to suspend work while an independent review takes place. We are hopeful that there will be proper engagement and transparency and that we can avoid the potentially negative outcomes that the process was heading toward,” Ms Hailes said.
Ends.
For more information:
Gemma Osiejak
UDIA WA Executive Manager Communications & Marketing
E: gosiejak@udiawa.com.au
M: 0421 506 819