Council Considers Draft Canning Bridge Precinct Vision

The date has been extended by one month to ensure Council has enough time to thoroughly consider the document’s complexities and all public submissions.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said if Council supports the revised Draft Canning Bridge Precinct Vision it will go to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) – which makes the final decision to endorse the Draft Vision or not.

“The Draft Vision, which is a 50-year plan, also takes into consideration the State’s new planning framework, Directions 2031 and Beyond. By 2031, the State’s population is forecasted to reach 2.2 million or 328,000 new homes, of which 121,000 will be in the central metropolitan area,” he said.

“In line with this growth, the Department of Planning has given the City of Melville a target of 11,000 new dwellings by 2031. To accommodate this growth, the City of Melville is considering a number of transport and commercial hubs in the municipality, with the Canning Bridge precinct a focus.

“The Draft Vision is a design concept for future development of the Canning Bridge precinct, and was prepared through a partnership between the Cities of Melville and South Perth, the Department of Planning and the Western Australian Planning Commission, with significant input from the public. If endorsed by the WAPC, further detailed planning studies are proposed including: Traffic; Design Guidelines; Streetscape/Landscape Guidelines; and a Parking and Access strategy. The public’s feedback will once again be sought during the Design Guidelines stage.

“The Draft Vision will then be re-considered by all parties in light of the study findings.”  

The public comment period from February to April 2010 resulted in more than 400 submissions, with six key topics identified as matters of public interest. These topics were: the Canning Bridge station; Cassey Street Bridge; redevelopment along the river; increased building density and heights; traffic and parking; and environmental impacts in the area.  

“The public submissions have been very thoroughly considered and the Draft Vision has been amended as a result of this feedback. During previous consultations, the community told the City of Melville they would prefer to increase density around commercial and transport areas, in order to reduce reliance on cars and increase the use of public transport,” he said.

The report on the public submissions will be publicly available after it has been presented to Council on Tuesday, 19 October 2010.

Further information on the draft Canning Bridge Precinct Vision is available by calling 1300 635 845 or at www.melvillecity.com.au/our-future/canning-bridge-precinct.