Insights

Over the past 20 years, we have seen businesses in the extractive industry face more and more red tape when it comes to securing planning and environmental approvals. Operators often require numerous approvals at local, state and Commonwealth levels, and regulations and compliance requirements are becoming increasingly onerous. Principal Environmental Planner, Sharee Rasmussen, has been […]

Working with local shires and communities in regional Western Australia is a big part of what we do. Earlier this year, The Shire of Ravensthorpe engaged us to develop a Mainstreet Improvement Strategy for the townships of Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun. The primary goal of the strategy was to encourage locals and tourists to visit the […]

The State Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) handed down a decision last month, which has major implications for local planning in Western Australia. In the case of West Australian Shalom Inc. v City of Joondalup [2023] WASAT 63, (the Matter) questions were raised as to whether development approval was required under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS), […]

Community Consultation  These days everybody has an expectation to be consulted, yet there is a difference between public participation and community consultation in planning.    The requirement for community consultation is enshrined in planning legislation as well as State Planning policy and planning regulations. This establishes a requirement that it be done, however the quality of […]

The State Government is in the final stages of implementing regulatory changes that will have a major impact on planning and development in Western Australia. According to the State Government, the reforms are designed to streamline the planning system and make the process easier to navigate. Today, we’ll be delving into what the proposed changes […]

The Bureau of Meteorology recently declared that Australia is officially experiencing its third La Niña this summer. This relatively rare climate event is typically marked by increased rainfall and flooding risks, as well as cooler daytime temperatures. Although the Eastern States of Australia have been hit the hardest, Western Australia is still experiencing the effects […]