Published on Thursday, 1 August 2019 at 4:02:59 PM
The Hon. Rita Saffioti, State Minister for Planning and The Hon. Kim Beazley AC., Governor of Western Australia, have approved the Western Australian Planning Commission’s (WAPC) recommendation for Port Hedland’s colloquially termed West End to be the subject of Improvement Plan No. 50 and eventual gazettal of an Improvement Scheme.
The purpose of the Improvement Plan is to advance the planning, development and use of land west of McGregor St and Lukis Street, acting on long held dust management concerns.
Historical developments led to this decision, including 2016’s Port Hedland Air Quality Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter, which presented evidence of negative health effects caused by dust.
In October 2018, the State Government supported the Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce’s recommendations, taking a whole of government approach to address the issue.
Once the Improvement Scheme has been gazetted, the jurisdiction to determine development applications in the West End will change from Council under its local planning scheme to the WAPC under the improvement scheme.
The Hon. Commissioner Fred Riebeling welcomed WAPC’s recommendation, the Minister’s approval and the Governor’s approval, saying it gave all stakeholders certainty moving forward.
“I’d like to acknowledge the work of WAPC in developing an improvement plan which recognises the local significance of the West End and the need to plan for its long term future.
“The State Government understands the need to balance the physical, economic, social and environmental factors within a strategic planning framework.
“Historically, concerns have been raised in the community regarding dust levels, with an identified need to restrict population growth and prohibit sensitive land uses.
“The WAPC will decide how land is used in the gazetted area, making determinations in line with the Improvement Scheme and reflective of community will.
“As the Town, our position is to work constructively with the WAPC in their upcoming efforts to develop an Improvement Scheme which works in the best interests of Hedland.”
To read more about the Improvement Plan 50, please click here.
For media information:
Laura Hawes
Manager Marketing Communication and Events
(08) 9158 9365 | lhawes@porthedland.wa.gov.au
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