Stay Informed - Shire Planning Services

Affordable rental accommodation in the Shire has become hard to find for both seasonal workers and local renters. If you have a spare room or two in your house, now might be the time to consider renting it on a long term basis. There are many benefits to sharing your home, here’s just a few:

You don’t need approval

Its not often you hear the Shire say that is it? However renting out rooms within your house for long term rental purposes falls within the normal use of a house, as intended. Of course approvals will still be required if you want to rent your house for short term (tourism) purposes.

Support for our local economy

COVID has meant that many international travellers who would normally occupy seasonal jobs in the agriculture and hospitality industry are not available. Workers who would like to live and work in our Shire are finding it hard to locate suitable accommodation. Our local tourism industry is set for a busy summer, but without accommodation, where will they live?

Support for vulnerable renters

Locals who live in unstable accommodation can find themselves without a home at any point. But the answer to this problem may be close to home. Renting a room or two can result in a mutually beneficial situation and may just help someone through a difficult time.

Sustainable Accommodation

Sustainability is about using existing resources wisely and avoiding the consumption of more than we need. With so many large and partly occupied houses – do we need more? Renting a room or two in your house is one of the most sustainable decisions you could ever make.

To advertise your room for rent you might like to register with The Home Hub at www.homehub.org.au

The Strategy sets a direction for how the Shire will manage land use and population change over a 15 year period.

The Strategy has been preceded by 18 months of pre-consultation with valuable contributions from community members/groups and industry included in the draft document.

Have your say on the draft Document.

Explore the strategy map (click on Local Planning Strategy 2020 module).

The closing date for submissions is the 27 November 2020.

There are numerous ways for you to help the Shire shape the final Strategy:

• Take the Survey below
• Come to a workshop (dates to be announced)
• Send us an email – lpsreview@amrshire.wa.gov.au
• Contact us - Matt Slocomb 97805 238 or Matt Cuthbert 97805 226

We’ve put a FAQ document together for the Westin Margaret River Resort & Spa Development (Lot 783) and additional Gnarabup development (Lots 501-504).

The FAQ can be viewed here

On the 28th May 2020, the Planning and Amendment Bill was read for the third time in the lower house of the WA Parliament.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Planning and Development Act 2005, and to make related amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Community Titles Act 2018.

You can follow the progress of the Bill and find supporting explanatory material here.

Backyard Infill: A smarter way to grow

Over the last three months Shire planning staff have been conducting in depth discussions with land owners, about an exciting new model of urban development and how it might be beneficial for the development of their land.

‘Backyard Infill’ is about increasing the number of people that live within our existing neighbourhoods thus avoiding the need to create new ones. Its about growing without expanding.

Dependent on receiving positive community feedback, the project will be implemented through the preparation of a new Local Planning Scheme and Strategy for the Shire.

Check out the for more information view here.

On the 11^th April 2020, Minister Saffioti, released a range of exemptions to local planning requirements under new State of Emergency powers.

A Notice of Exemption has been issued providing a blanket two-year extension to be granted for all current development approvals to assist job-creating projects during the recovery stage. The Notice of Exemption also identifies other matters which no longer require planning approval across a number of essential local community services, including:

• medical or health-related facilities required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• truck and logistic companies needing to deliver goods but currently with restricted loading and unloading times;
• businesses seeking to adapt by changing their current approved use;
• restaurants and cafes required to sell takeaway in contravention of current planning conditions;
• people operating their businesses from residential zones;
• the parking of commercial vehicles on residential properties;
• businesses needing to change signage; and
• provision of temporary workers' accommodation.

You can find the Notice of Exemption on the Shire’s website here.

By gazettal on 3 April 2020, the Minister for Planning published an amendment to the LPS Regulations which came into effect on 4 April 2020.

The effect of the amendment was to add to Schedule 2 of the LPS Regulations a new Part 10B containing deemed clauses 78H, 78I and 78J which, as deemed provisions, take effect in every LPS in the State.

The Amendments provide the Minister for Planning with authority to temporarily override requirements and conditions set out in a local planning scheme, and existing conditions in planning approvals.

This could include exemptions relating to noise or amenity restrictions that guide supermarket deliveries, waste and recycling services and construction activities, and take-away and retail delivery services among other locally driven compliance requirements.

Under the amendments, the Minister for Planning can issue a notice to suppress local scheme provisions for a single council, across a specific region or across the State.

The Shire have incorporated the changes within its Local Planning Scheme (No. 1) available on the website here.

At its meeting of the 10^th March the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) resolved to provide the Shire “certification” of the draft Local Planning Strategy allowing it to be advertised for a period of public consultation. In doing so, the WAPC required the Shire to undertake some modifications to the document. The WAPC’s decision lends significant support to the principles for managing growth and development in the Shire developed in partnership with the community.

Shire officers will now complete the changes and commence a period of public consultation when it is safe and responsible to do so having regard to the effects of COVID-19.

The coming consultation process will build on an extensive pre-consultation process undertaken over a period of 12 month

You can find the latest news and information on Shire services on our Facebook Page here. We encourage discussion, feedback, questions and an exchange of ideas.

Owners wishing to use their properties for short stay accommodation are reminded of the need to first obtain planning approval from the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

Shire chief executive officer, Stephanie Addison-Brown said the increase in community members listing their properties for short stay accommodation has been a hot topic not only locally, but across Australia and around the world.

“Digital technology is making it much easier for people to list their properties for short-term rent, however shire approval is still needed.

“Renting out your house, or even rooms within your house in a bed and breakfast manner needs approval.

“The shire has particular controls around this type of land use, in order to maintain the affordability and availability of housing, and to preserve amenity for our permanent residents,” she said.

Ms Addison-Brown said approvals were typically granted for a limited period and required renewal to remain approved.

“To help ensure the short stay rentals being advertised are authorised, the Shire periodically checks online listings against its register of approved rentals.

“So please get in touch with our planning team if you think your approval may have expired, or if you are thinking of listing your property for short stay accommodation,” she said.

The penalties for operating a short stay house or rooms without approval can be significant and the Shire would like to remind the community of the need to obtain prior approval.

To obtain an approval for short stay accommodation, visit the Shire’s website https://www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/services/planning

Alternatively contact the Shire directly for further information at spdplanning@amrshire.wa.gov.au or by calling Planning Services on 9780 5220.