Local MP says City of Joondalup could have prevented Warwick Quarter Development with a structure plan

The City of Joondalup has come under fire from a local MP over the proposed $280 million Warwick Quarter development because it did not have a local structure plan in place for the area. The Kingsley and Greenwood Warwick Residents Association has called on the public to meet on Saturday to seek answers over the proposed Warwick Quarter development, which has seven multi-storey buildings, three of which will be 25 storeys tall. The association said it wanted the State Government to follow its own processes for the assessment of the application and not “rush the development through because of the housing crisis”. It comes as the public consultation period was extended by two weeks to now close on October 14 after complaints it was not long enough for all of the community to have their say. “Someone’s lack of planning is now our emergency,” association spokesperson Sonia Makoare said. “Every Perth suburb should be concerned that the WA Planning Commission may approve this colossal development to prove a point and in doing so Warwick will become the precedent for other high rise developments in Perth’s suburbs.” The group is calling for the creation of a structure plan in the area to set parameters for future development. Kingsley MP Jessica Stojkovski spoke about the matter to Parliament last week and in responses to questions from PerthNow said such a proposal of its size could have been avoided. “The situation we have now is a clear example of why local governments need to ensure they have local structure plans in place,” she said. “The Warwick Quarter proposal has been brought forward by the private developer in the absence of a local structure plan. The need for a local structure plan is something I strongly advocated for with the City of Joondalup and Vicinity Centres in 2021. “Local structure plans take into account community input to guide what kind of development is appropriate for that particular community.” In her speech in Parliament, Ms Stojkovski said the city agreed to prepare a structure plan for the area “but unfortunately to date the city has not undertaken the work required”. “This means that there are no guidelines for development of this centre-zoned area, including any potential height guidelines,” she said. City of Joondalup deputy mayor Adrian Hill said development in centres such as Warwick should be preceded by a “precinct structure plan” to outline land use, density and built-form requirements to guide future subdivision and development. “Precinct structure plans can be prepared by the State Government (WAPC), a relevant local government or can be led by a landowner,” he said. “In the absence of a precinct structure plan, any development proposal needs to demonstrate that it would not prejudice the overall development potential of the area and does not conflict with the principles of orderly and proper planning.” However, he said the development bypassed the city thanks to a change in policy to fast-track developments following the pandemic years. “The Warwick Quarter development proposal was submitted directly to the WAPC through the State Government’s ‘Part 17’ Significant Development Pathway, a temporary pathway introduced by the State Government in July 2020 to streamline approvals for job-creating projects to support WA’s economic recovery from COVID-19,” he said. “The Significant Development Pathway process is led entirely by the State Government and whilst the WAPC is required to have regard to any planning framework that is in place, it is not bound by it.” This means the city will not be the decision maker on the development, but will provide its submission to the WAPC after its October 22 council meeting. Further information provided to PerthNow by the city outlined a “general presumption” that any development of the Warwick Quarter land would be preceded by a precinct structure plan. According to the city’s Local Planning Scheme 3, land zoned as “centre” — such as the Warwick activity centre — also requires development to be in accordance with an approved structure plan. However, town planners for the development Rowe Group said in the application the implementation of a structure plan would delay the development, and local injection of housing, by three years. Rowe Group was contacted for comment The meeting held by the residents association will begin at 3pm on Saturday at Warwick Hall.