In response to recent community interest and to assist with the Town’s visioning engagement activities with the community, the Town has prepared responses to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the development application.
These FAQs may be updated as new information comes to hand.
Q. What is the Part 17 ‘significant development’ pathway?
The Part 17 Significant Development Pathway was a temporary initiative introduced by the State Government in 2020 to encourage major developments as part of its COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery program. Applicants with proposals valued at $20 million or more in the metropolitan area and $5 million or more in regional areas were able to apply to be determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC). In making its decision, the WAPC is able to apply additional discretion.
The Town understands that Blackburne’s proposal was capable of being submitted to the DPLH as a significant development application because the value of the proposed development is $200 million.
Q. Who will be the decision maker of the development application?
The DPLH will assess the development application and make a recommendation to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), who is the decision maker of significant development applications under Part 17 of the Act.
The Town will have an opportunity to provide comments to the WAPC on Blackburne’s development application.
Q. What is the application process?
The DPLH undertakes an assessment of the proposal.
During the DPLH’s assessment, there is a public submission process. The DPLH has publicly advertised the proposal for public consultation from Friday, 26 July 2024 to Monday, 26 August 2024. The application was also formally referred to the Town for comment on Friday, 26 July 2024 and the Town’s response is due to the DPLH by Friday, 20 September 2024.
Following the public consultation process and the Town’s referral period, the DPLH will collate all submissions received from the public and include the Town’s comments on the proposal in a report to the WAPC.
The WAPC will then schedule a special public meeting to determine the application.
When the WAPC schedules its meeting, information about the meeting will be available on the DPLH website and members of the public who provide comments on the proposal will be informed of the meeting date and details.
Deputations can be requested. Information about applying for a deputation will be available on the DPLH website here.
People attend the meeting in person or virtually via a Zoom link.
The order of business will be set out in the meeting agenda that will be published by the DPLH on its website a minimum of five business days before the meeting. The outcome of the meeting and reasons for the WAPC’s decision are also published within 10 business days of the meeting.
Q. Why is the Ocean Village site being redeveloped?
The State Government has set additional housing growth targets for all local governments within the Perth and Peel region to accommodate an expected population growth from 2.21 million people in 2024 to 3.5 million by 2050.
For the Town, the State Government has set an additional dwelling growth target of 6,830 new dwellings.
The Town’s Local Planning Strategy, which is the Town’s long-term strategic planning document that was developed over many years (commencing in 2008 and adopted in 2021), identifies several development areas within the Town to accommodate development to meet the Town’s additional dwelling growth target.
The Ocean Village Shopping Centre site in City Beach has been identified by the Town as one of the development areas to provide 200 to 250 of those new dwellings.
Q. What if I am concerned about changes to the Ocean Village Shopping Precinct?
The DPLH has advertised the development application for public consultation. The consultation period is open until 26 August 2024. The Town strongly encourages the community to raise any questions, comments and concerns in a submission.
You can make a submission online or via mail:
- Make a submission
- By Mail – Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, State Development Assessment Unit, Locked Bag 2506 Perth WA 6001
Q. How can I view the development application documents?
The application is being advertised by the DPLH. All of the relevant documentation for the application is available:
- View documentation
- In person by appointment at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage: Level 2, 140 William Street Perth WA 6000
- In person at the Town of Cambridge Administration Building: 1 Bold Park Drive, Floreat
If you have questions about the application, you can contact the DPLH on (08) 6551 9450 or SDAUconsultation@dplh.wa.gov.au.
Q. What consultation was done with the community about this development?
In March and April 2024, the Town conducted a community engagement survey with the Town’s residents and ratepayers to provide their views and aspirations for the Ocean Village site. The outcomes of this engagement will help inform the Town’s Administration and Council on the community’s views when responding to the DPLH about Blackburne’s development application. You can view the report on this survey here.
As part of the Town’s sale of the two car parks at Ocean Village, the sale was advertised and community members were able to provide their comments in relation to the sale of the land. 165 submissions were received in support of the sale.
Property developer Blackburne may have also undertaken their own community engagement activities as part of their process in planning their development and preparing the development application.
Q. When will a decision be made on the development application?
When the WAPC sets the date for its determination meeting, it will be advertised here.
We are unsure when the WAPC will decide on Blackburne’s development application.
The public consultation period closes on 26 August 2024.
Following the public consultation process, the DPLH will collate all submissions received from the public and include the Town’s comments on the proposal in a report to the WAPC.
The WAPC will then schedule a special public meeting to determine the application.
When the WAPC schedules its meeting, information about the meeting will be available on the DPLH website and members of the public who provide comments on the proposal will be informed of the meeting date and details.
The order of business is set out in the meeting agenda. Agenda papers are published on the DPLH website a minimum of five business days before the meeting. The outcome of the meeting and reasons for the WAPC’s decision are also published within 10 business days of the meeting.
Q. How can I be involved?
You can stay informed and involved on the Ocean Village development application by:
- Making a submission during the public consultation period. You can make your submission online or by mail:
- Make a submission
- By Mail – Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, State Development Assessment Unit, Locked Bag 2506 Perth WA 6001
- Following updates on the Town’s website.
- Direct Communication: You can send personal feedback or inquiries to the Town via email to mail@cambridge.wa.gov.au or phone (08) 9347 6000.
- Specific questions about the Ocean Village development application should be directed to the DPLH on (08) 6551 9450 or emailed to SDAUconsultation@dplh.wa.gov.au.