Special Character Areas Review 2024- Quindalup, Yallingup, Old Dunsborough and Eagle Bay

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Special Character Area Policy Review

The City of Busselton has defined Special Character Areas within the City due to their significant environmental, character and heritage value to the community. These areas have distinctive character values and visual amenity specific to their location.

To preserve and enhance these unique areas, the City has implemented specific planning controls for each one to ensure that important characteristics within these areas are preserved and not compromised by future development.

The project is looking at reviewing the existing development controls within four of the City’s Special Character Areas:

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback via a survey or attended a community workshop, all comments will be taken into consideration when the new Policies are updated.

Follow the project to remain updated.

To view the Engagement Outcomes Report click here.

Special Character Area Policy Review

The City of Busselton has defined Special Character Areas within the City due to their significant environmental, character and heritage value to the community. These areas have distinctive character values and visual amenity specific to their location.

To preserve and enhance these unique areas, the City has implemented specific planning controls for each one to ensure that important characteristics within these areas are preserved and not compromised by future development.

The project is looking at reviewing the existing development controls within four of the City’s Special Character Areas:

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback via a survey or attended a community workshop, all comments will be taken into consideration when the new Policies are updated.

Follow the project to remain updated.

To view the Engagement Outcomes Report click here.

  • Council Outcome- 28 May 2025

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    At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 28 May 2025, Council approved the next stage of consultation on the following Local Planning Policy’s:

    1. Local Planning Policy 3.2 – Yallingup Special Character Area
    2. Local Planning Policy 3.3 – Eagle Bay Special Character Area
    3. Local Planning Policy 3.4 – Old Dunsborough Special Character Area
    4. Local Planning Policy 3.5 – Quindalup Special Character Area
    5. Local Planning Policy 3.7 – Cape to Cape Track Visual Protection Area

    Consultation is set to occur later in the year in alignment with the draft Local Planning Scheme No. 22. The timing of this will depend on the WA Planning Commission’s review of the Local Planning Scheme.

    Keep following this page to stay up to date on the latest information.

  • Project Update- May 2025

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    In 2024, the City invited community feedback as part of a review into the Special Character Area Policies for Yallingup, Eagle Bay, Old Dunsborough, and Quindalup. Following this a suite of planning controls were drafted to reflect the engagement outcomes and provide a simplified and updated planning framework. A policy focussing on the Cape to Cape Track Visual Protection Area has also been prepared. These policies will go to the Ordinary Council Meeting on 28 May 2025 for consent to advertise on the final draft. Look out for more information on consultation opportunities later in the year.

  • Community Engagement Outcomes- September 2024

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    Project Overview

    On the 16 August 2023, the City of Busselton Council passed a Resolution to amend Local Planning Scheme No. 21, due to the City’s inability to exercise discretion in the assessment of planning applications within the Special Character Areas (SCAs). The City’s ability to exercise discretion within the SCAs was challenged by a Supreme Court decision in 2021 and led to a broader community discussion relating to the styles of development appropriate for the SCAs.

    In response, the City’s planning team initiated the process to complete a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process to inform the review of planning controls for the SCAs of Eagle Bay, Old Dunsborough, Yallingup, and Quindalup. The City engaged Element Advisory to design and facilitate the stakeholder engagement, including the analysis of community input, and provision of recommendations to refine the SCA policies. The engagement, which occurred between June and July 2024, ensured that community members and stakeholders were informed of the process and provided with opportunities to contribute to the review through surveys and three community workshops.

    Key objectives included clear communication of project intentions, gathering feedback on policy frameworks, and understanding community aspirations through online surveys, stakeholder workshops, and direct communications across various channels.

    Key Findings

    The engagement process revealed strong community support for maintaining the unique character and environmental values of the SCAs. Key priorities identified across the SCAs included:

    • Eagle Bay: Preservation of low building heights, open views, and harmonious integration with the natural environment were top priorities. There was also significant support for maintaining larger blocks and using native vegetation in landscaping.

    • Quindalup: Respondents emphasized the importance of protecting the area's visual amenity, with a focus on maintaining open spaces and preserving mature trees. Architectural style and the use of building materials that blend with the natural surroundings were also highlighted.

    • Old Dunsborough: The community prioritized retaining the area's traditional character, with particular emphasis on controlling building heights and setbacks. Landscaping that preserves native vegetation and limits visual impact was also considered crucial.

    • Yallingup: Feedback indicated a strong desire to preserve the rural and coastal character of Yallingup, with controls on building heights, setbacks, and the use of natural materials being key considerations.

    Next Steps

    The findings from the consultation informed the review of the local planning policies. The City is now preparing amended polices and incorporating a series of provisions for the City’s new draft Local Planning Scheme 22 that will provide more development certainty for residents in the SCAs.

    The new polices will be advertised concurrently with the new draft Scheme in early 2025, as instructed by the Western Australian Planning Commission. The community will have an opportunity to provide feedback on both the amended polices and new draft Scheme early next year.

    The City wishes to thank community members and residents within the Special Character Areas for their valuable input. This project has informed balanced planning controls that reflect the community’s aspirations, whilst also providing clear guidelines for future development.

    You can view the full Engagement Outcomes Report here.

Page last updated: 29 May 2025, 12:44 PM