The Shire of Irwin’s Local Planning Strategy acts as a guide for the progressive development of the Shire over the next 10 to 15 years by:

• Setting out long term planning directions;
• Applying State and regional planning policies; and
• Providing rationale for land use zones and other provisions of the Local Planning Scheme.

The Local Planning Strategy was endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission on 3 August 2017 and can be viewed on the Department of Planning website.

Local Planning Strategy 

All land within the Shire of Irwin boundaries is covered by the Shire of Irwin Local Planning Scheme No. 5. This Scheme stipulates land use zoning and development controls within the Shire. The Scheme is to be read in conjunction with the Local Planning Strategy.

The Shire of Irwin Local Planning Scheme No. 5 can be found on the WA Planning Commission’s website.

Local Planning Scheme No.5

If a use is not permitted under the Planning Scheme, Council may agree to amend it to allow for different uses. A number of factors need to be taken into account when an Amendment to a Planning Scheme is proposed.

Generally, Council must be satisfied that:

• an explanatory report clearly defining what is proposed is prepared; and
• affects on the environment are considered and that social and economic effects have been addressed.

All Planning Scheme Amendments will have an accompanying fee that will need to be paid before the matter is determined. 

Scheme amendment decisions are made by the Western Australian Planning Commission. For more information on the Scheme Amendment process contact the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

forms & information page Dept of Planning, lands and Heritage

The Shire of Irwin have adopted a number of Local Planning Policies under the Local Planning Scheme to guide decision making and determination of development applications made to the Shire.

 LOCAL PLANNING POLICIES

Legislation requires that all development applications above a certain financial threshold be determined by a Development Assessment Panel (DAP), with the opportunity for proponents of developments below the threshold to opt in.

Assessment by a DAP is compulsory for developments with an estimated cost of $10 million or more. The "opt-in" threshold is for development that has an estimated cost between $2 million and $10 million.

The DAPs will consist of an independent chairman, two local council representatives, and three members with expertise in fields to be prescribed.

More Information Development Assessment Panel applications can be viewed on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage webpage  

Dept Planning, Lands and Heritage

Subdivision is controlled by the Western Australian Planning Commission. However, local planning considerations still play a role and the Shire can provide advice in this regard.

Information and application forms for subdivision approvals can be accessed at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage webpage.

Subdivison fees and forms

The Shire of Irwin refers to the Local Government Guidelines for Subdivisional Development for subdivisional engineering approval and clearance of relevant subdivisional conditions.

Guidelines for subdivisional development

For all development located within the Residential zone, the Shire uses the State Planning Policy 7.3 Residential Design Codes Volume 1 (renamed May 2019) for guidance when assessing development applications.

The Residential Design Codes can be found on the WA Planning Commissions website:

SPP 7.3 Residential design codes - Volume 1

The Dongara-Port Denison District Structure Plan and the District Water Management Strategy will guide land use and development over the next 10 to 20 years. 

District Structure Plan

The Dongara Town Centre Precinct Plan provides guidance for land use and development of the various Precincts within the Dongara Town Centre.

town Centre Precinct Plan

The purpose of the Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) is to provide strategic guidance on coordinated, integrated and sustainable management and adaptation for land use and development in the coastal zone. Specifically this CHRMAP:

• provides information on the effects of coastal hazards;
• presents a decision-making framework to assess the associated risks;
• highlights coastal hazard areas in terms of vulnerability and risk; and
• suggests possible adaptation options

CHRMAP

Council recently endorsed the Coastal Management Plan.

The purpose of the Coastal Management Plan is to inform the Shire of appropriate future development and land use of coastal land under the ownership or management of the Shire. The Plan investigates and takes into account coastal hazards/risks and coastal processes so that we have a better understanding of how the areas of coastal land will form or be impacted over time. The Plan covers the coast of the district but focuses on more prominent “hotspots” and continues on from the Shire’s Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) in 2016.

The Plan is comprehensive but is broken down into sections for the 3 sectors of the coast that form the recommended actions:

• Sector 1 Northern Beaches 
• Sector 2 Dongara/Port Denison
• Sector 3 Southern Nodes

These sections may assist with refining to your area of interest on the topic.

Coastal Management Plan

This project is funded by the Western Australian Planning Commission through the Coastal Management Plan Assistance Program.