FAQs

When a change is required to made to the City of Cockburn’s Town Planning Scheme No.3 this typically occurs through a scheme amendment. A scheme amendment can be proposed by landowners, State Government agencies or the City itself.

A scheme amendment is initiated by the City at an Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) after which it becomes responsible for progressing the proposal, however, the Minister for Planning is the ultimate determining authority.   

Scheme amendments can occur for different reasons including:

• A change to zoning to accommodate specific land uses or development
• A change in residential density coding
• A change in the scheme's wording for more effective planning
• To implement strategic vision within the local planning strategy 
• To ensure orderly and proper planning.

Yes, there are three types of scheme amendments: basic, standard and complex. 

Scheme Amendment No.172 is being progressed as a standard amendment which means it needs to be advertised for 42 days.  

The proposed changes as part of Amendment No.172 include the following:

1. Rezoning various lots within ‘Development Area 37’ from ‘Development’ to ‘Residential (R25)’, ‘Residential (R40)’ and ‘Residential (R80)’, ‘as depicted on the Scheme Amendment Map.
2. Reducing the extent of the 'Development Area 37' special control area boundary, as depicted on the Scheme Amendment Map.

The standard amendment process is defined in the Part 5, Division 1, Regulation 34 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015. 

A standard amendment can be used where an amendment meets one or many of the following criteria: 

• an amendment relating to a zone or reserve that is consistent with the objectives identified in the scheme for that zone or reserve
• an amendment that is consistent with a local planning strategy for the scheme that has been endorsed by the Commission
• an amendment to the scheme so that it is consistent with a region planning scheme that applies to the scheme area, other than an amendment that is a basic amendment
• an amendment to the scheme map that is consistent with a structure plan or local development plan that has been approved under the scheme for the land to which the amendment relates if the scheme does not currently include zones of all the types that are outlined in the plan
• an amendment that would have minimal impact on land in the scheme area that is not the subject of the amendment
• an amendment that does not result in any significant environmental, social, economic or governance impacts on land in the scheme area
• any other amendment that is not a complex or basic amendment.

There should be no immediate effects on landowners or occupiers as a result of Amendment No.172. Any existing lawful development will not be impacted by the proposal.

The closing date for submission is Thursday 28 March 2024

Submissions can be made by any of the following methods: 

• Online - on the Comment on Cockburn website via online form; or
• Mail – to the City of Cockburn PO BOX 1215 Bibra Lake DC WA 6965; or
• Email – to Strategic Planning at [email protected](External link). 

Please be aware if you make a submission, it will be included in a Council Agenda report, which is available for public viewing. 

Please clearly state in your submission if you want your details to be kept confidential.