Town Planning Scheme Number 3

This Town Planning Scheme was adopted by Council July 15, 1999 and gazetted on September 3, 1999. A full copy of the Scheme as amended is attached below.

Click here to download the complete Town Planning Scheme No.3

Current Town Planning Scheme and Development Control

The purpose of a Town Planning Scheme is to outline the future development of a town, zone and various land areas within the Scheme boundary, indicate the permitted uses within those zones, set out the required development standards and to state the relevant administrative requirements.

Amendments occur from time to time and are required to be advertised in the local press. The advertisements always state where copies of the proposed amendments may be viewed and where to lodge submissions.

Town Planning

If you intend to commence development in your land (which includes commencing to use your land for a particular purpose), you must first obtain the approval of Council.

The only time Council's planning approval is not required is to build a single dwelling house and associated structures such as carports, patios, garden sheds and the like on a residential property. However, as always a building licence must be obtained.

The development or use of land without first gaining Council's approval for the development or use of land in contravention of the Town Planning Scheme, is an offence for which hefty penalties may be imposed.

Applications on the appropriate form should be lodged with Council, accompanied by sufficient plans to indicate the location, extent of all buildings and site plans, floor plans and elevations. Council will assess each application in accordance with the Town Planning Scheme and any relevant Policies. In approving the development Council may impose such conditions as it deems appropriate. Where development also requires Health and Building approval, a separate application on the appropriate form must also be made to Council.

Zoning and Uses

The permitted uses on a specific site may be established by identifying the zoning of the lot on the Scheme Map and then cross referencing that zone with the relative use class on the zoning table in the Scheme Text.

Zone Map Legend

Zone Map South                                                Zone Map North                                                     Zone Map Mid

Zone Map South East                                          Zone Map North East                                              Zone Map Surrounds 

Where a particular development use has been granted by formal Planning Approval by the Council, but that development or use becomes a not permitted use in that zone in a subsequent Town Planning Scheme, the approved development is then protected by a non conforming use right. This allows continued use of the development or the site on the approved manner until such as the use is voluntarily discontinued or the Council enforces its cessation by the payment of adequate compensation.

Compliance with Conditions

It is a legal requirement that any conditions imposed in granting Planning Approval to a development or use, must be compiled with in full. Any persons or company experiencing difficulty in meeting these requirements should contact the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire, as the Council may consider an extension of time for full compliance in some circumstances.

Rights of Appeal

Where a person is aggrieved by a Council refusal of an application, or by the conditions imposed on approval, in the case of the Council exercising a discretionary power under the Scheme, he/she has a right of appeal either to the Minister for Planning or to the Town Planning Appeal Tribunal. Forms for such appeals may be obtained from the Council offices or either the Minister or the Tribunal in Perth.

Home Occupations

Any person wishing to conduct a business from home must apply to the Council for a Home Occupation Approval. All applications must be made on the appropriate form, setting out all the required information and should be submitted to Council, along with the appropriate fee.

In granting such approval, the Council may impose conditions as it sees fit, to ensure compliance with the Home Occupation Policy. A copy of Council's Home Occupation Policy is available at the Council office, or is included in Council's Policy Manual on this site under COUNCIL DIRECTIVES.

Other Policies

Council has adopted a range of Policy Statements, which are used in conjunction with the Town Planning Scheme in the assessment of the town planning applications. These are available in Council’s Policy Manual on this site under COUNCIL DIRECTIVES.