Frequently Asked Questions

DevelopmentWA is the State Government's central development agency operating across Western Australia with a diverse portfolio of industrial, commercial and residential projects. It was launched in 2019 as a result of the merger of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and LandCorp. We are responsible for developing and administering the planning framework including Redevelopment Schemes, Development Policies and Design Guidelines and assessing and determining Development Applications.

Transfer of Planning Authority is the process by which land is subtracted from a development area and planning control for that land is returned to the Western Australian Planning Commission and relevant local governments jurisdiction. This includes strategic and statutory planning and asset management.

Following transfer of planning authority, DevelopmentWA will no longer be the Redevelopment Authority for the area, as defined under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Act 2011.

Following the State Government's Machinery of Government review, a number of Land Agency Reforms have been implemented to provide greater efficiencies and strengthen the Government's ability to deliver priority projects such as METRONET. As a result, a number of legacy projects have been prioritised for completion.

DevelopmentWA's role as a Redevelopment Authority, under the powers of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Act 2011, is to act as a transitory authority responsible for the delivery of specific projects objectives and outcomes. Once project objectives are delivered planning responsibility is returned to the relevant local government.

Following the State Government's Machinery of Government review, a number of Land Agency Reforms have been implemented to provide greater efficiencies and strengthen the Government's ability to deliver priority projects such as METRONET. As a result, a number of legacy projects have been prioritised for completion.

DevelopmentWA's role as a Redevelopment Authority, under the powers of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Act 2011, is to act as a transitory authority responsible for the delivery of specific projects objectives and outcomes. Once project objectives are delivered planning responsibility is returned to the relevant local government.

Transfer of Planning Authority will see the alignment of the local government planning framework with the Redevelopment Authority's framework and transfer of other statutory planning documents as required, meaning planning authority will be returned to the applicable local government and Western Australian Planning Commission  (WAPC).

Following completion of the transfer of planning authority process, all planning applications will need to be lodged with the applicable local government or in the case of reserved land the WAPC. The Redevelopment Authority, will no longer play any role in processing planning applications for land in these areas.

Transfer of planning authority will not affect residents unless they plan to make modifications to their property in the future, in which case a planning application would be lodged with the applicable local government instead of DevelopmentWA.

Transfer of planning authority will not affect businesses unless they plan to make modifications to their property or seek approval for a change of use in the future, in which case a planning application would be lodged with the applicable local government instead of DevelopmentWA.

Projects already commenced will not be affected by transfer of planning authority. They will need to be completed in accordance with the planning approvals already issued.

Once transfer of planning authority occurs planning applications for new development projects will need to be lodged with the applicable local government.

All development approvals issued by DevelopmentWA under the provisions of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority Act 2011 remain valid approvals and are not impacted by transfer of planning authority. Applicants have the right to development in accordance with any current and valid development approval issued by DevelopmentWA.

Any development application which has been lodged and formally received by DevelopmentWA prior to transfer of planning authority but not yet determined will remain with DevelopmentWA for final determination. These development applications will be assessed against the redevelopment planning framework applicable at the time the application was formally received.

Applicants who require conditions clearance after transfer of planning authority are to formally lodge a request with the applicable local government. Following transfer of planning authority, the applicable local government is the ultimate clearance agency for any outstanding conditions.

DevelopmentWA is available to provide technical support and advice on these applications but does not have a formal role in the clearance process following transfer of planning authority.

Any future compliance issues, including compliance which directly relates to approvals issued by DevelopmentWA, will be managed by the applicable local government. DevelopmentWA is available to provide technical support and advice on these matters but does not have a formal role in compliance following project handover.

These services will not be affected. Rubbish collection, maintenance of public areas and other services will continue to be provided by the applicable local government, in the same way it has been during the redevelopment project.

Following transfer of planning authority, everything to do with planning approvals will be the responsibility of the applicable local government. The local government already has responsibility for issuing building permits, sign licenses and demolition licenses.