Local Planning
Third Party Merit Appeal Rights (TPMARs)
In Western Australia, the community lacks the ability to appeal planning decisions. While developers can appeal the refusal of a development application, there are no third-party appeal rights for affected neighbours, community groups, or local governments to challenge the approval of developments or the conditions applied to those approvals.
This gap in the system undermines local planning policies and the community’s right to protect their amenity. The absence of TPMARs (Third Party Merit Appeal Rights) leaves local residents with limited options to ensure that development decisions align with their needs and values.
WA is the only state without TPMARs, and evidence from other jurisdictions shows that their introduction leads to better decision-making, increases public trust, and promotes compliance with planning policies. By empowering communities to have a voice in planning decisions, we can ensure that development contributes to the long-term wellbeing of all Western Australians.
It’s time to introduce TPMARs in WA to enhance the planning process, protect local interests, and improve outcomes for our communities.
Revitalizing Our Town Centres
High streets like Old Perth Road in Bassendean should be bustling hubs of community activity, but too often, they are lined with vacant, deteriorating shops that detract from the vibrancy of the area. These empty spaces contribute little to the local economy or community life, yet there’s no meaningful incentive for property owners to activate them. There are many reasons why high streets are struggling, but Western Australia must look at the policy levers available to encourage property owners to activate their buildings and disincentivise leaving them vacant.