FAQs

Amendment No. 60 is a proposal to rezone Lots 9001, 9010, S19 and S20 Bussell Highway, Abbey from ‘Rural’ and ‘Conservation’ to Urban Development. The amendment additionally proposes to amend Schedule 10 – Development Contribution Area to include the land within the Vasse Contribution Area. 

The proposal also includes other minor amendments to facilitate the rezoning. 

The Urban Development zoning allows for future residential subdivision of the property. 

A section 76 is an order by the Minister to adopt a local planning scheme or amendment in the instance that the Minister is satisfied that a local government has failed to adopt an amendment proposed by owners of any land, in a case where an amendment ought to be adopted. 

 As Council at its meeting of 11 December 2024 refused to initiate the amendment for advertising, the proponent made a representation to the Minister for Planning seeking to have the amendment progressed. A written order from the Minister to initiate the amendment has been received. 

Further information on Section 76 of the Planning and Development Act 2005 can be found here.   

Following a 2021 detailed investigation of Planning Investigation Areas identified in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Sub-Regional Strategy (LNSRS), Lot 9001 and 9010 were designated as ‘Urban’ and Lot S19 and S20 as ‘Open Space Investigation’. The City’s Local Planning Strategy identifies the site as a ‘Planning Investigation Area.’

 The proposed amendment will see the City’s Local Planning Scheme align the land with its urban designation under the LNSRS. The amendment will facilitate future urban development of the lots, subject to a structure plan. 

A structure plan is a document that guides the future subdivision and development of an area of land. 

 A structure plan will typically show the proposed residential layout, densities, land uses and areas of public open space. They can be supported by a range of technical documents, such as bushfire management, flora and fauna surveys, water management strategies and landscape design plans.

 As the land has been identified for future urban development, a structure plan is required to guide the future design of the area. 

 The associated Structure Plan can be viewed through the dedicated Your Say page. 

Submissions are open from 27/03/2026 and can be made using the submission form provided on this page. 

 Please note that if you wish to make a submission on the Vasse North Structure Plan (DP24/0005), a separate submission will need to be made through the dedicated Your Say page.

Following the end of the consultation period, the City will review all submissions and present the amendment back to Council to make a recommendation for either approval, refusal or approval with modifications.

 Following Council recommendation, the final decision maker is the WA Minister for Planning who will determine to either approve, refuse or approve with modifications. It is anticipated for final decision of the Minister to occur in late 2026.