The Town of Cambridge has reached a major milestone in its review of the planning framework, with Council supporting the draft Local Planning Scheme No. 2 (LPS2) at its 28 July 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
Council resolved to support the draft Scheme, subject to modifications, and forward its recommendation to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and Minister for Planning for final consideration.
If approved, LPS2 will replace the Town’s current Local Planning Scheme No. 1, gazetted in 1998 and amended 40 times since.
The new Scheme will provide a modern statutory planning framework to guide land use, zoning, development control and growth throughout the district.
Mayor Gary Mack said Council’s decision was an important step in keeping the Town’s planning framework current, clear, and responsive to long-term community needs.
“LPS2 is one of the most important planning documents for the Town’s future,” the Cambridge Mayor said.
“It will guide how land use and development are managed in the years ahead and help the Town plan responsibly for housing needs, infrastructure, neighbourhood character, and community expectations.”
The draft Scheme has been prepared to support the implementation of the Town’s Local Planning Strategy, endorsed by the WAPC in 2021.
The Strategy identifies the need to accommodate future dwelling targets under the Perth and Peel @ 3.5 million framework, with a focus on supporting housing diversity and infill development in suitable locations, while maintaining the established character of residential areas and supporting the protection of environmental, heritage and community assets.
Draft LPS2 was advertised for public comment from 20 October 2025 to 30 January 2026, with the Town holding drop-in sessions during this period for the public to view the proposed changes and chat with Town staff.
The Town received 322 public submissions and 14 from agencies and public authorities.
Mayor Mack thanked community members, landowners, residents, agencies and stakeholders for taking the time to review the draft Scheme and provide feedback.
“The level of engagement shows how strongly our community cares about our Town’s future,” Mayor Mack said.
“Council has carefully considered the feedback received, including concerns about traffic, parking, density, building height, infrastructure capacity and neighbourhood amenity.
“Planning for the future requires balance. The Town must provide for growth in appropriate locations while continuing to protect the qualities that make our suburbs liveable and valued by the community.”
Community submissions largely focused on the scale and location of proposed density increases, as well as potential impacts on traffic, parking, infrastructure capacity, building heights, and neighbourhood character.
While some submitters supported greater housing diversity in principle, many sought stronger transitions, clearer justification, and safeguards to ensure that future development is compatible with its surroundings.
Agency and public authority submissions were generally supportive and provided technical advice to inform future implementation, including transport, infrastructure, servicing, public health, heritage, and development assessment.
Council also resolved that – should the Town’s recommendation for the Peebles Road, former Newman Junior College site not be supported by State planning authorities – the Town would request that any alternative coding be no higher than R40, with a restriction on multiple dwellings.
This position seeks to ensure that any future redevelopment occurs at a scale and in a built form compatible with the established surrounding area.
Mayor Mack said the Town would continue to advocate for balanced planning outcomes throughout the final stages of the State assessment process.
“We will continue to advocate for planning outcomes that support housing choice and long-term sustainability while respecting the character, amenity, and liveability our community values,” he said.
The draft Scheme, Council’s recommendations, submissions, and proposed modifications will now be forwarded to the WAPC for assessment. The Minister for Planning is the final approval authority.
If approved and gazetted, LPS2 will become the Town’s principal statutory planning instrument, guiding future development assessment across the district.