Land-use planning – an overview for Western Australia

Securing land and water resources for agriculture and food

We provide information and advice to the Western Australian Planning Commission, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and Local Government Authorities to assist strategic land-use planning for  agriculture and aquaculture. We also support the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation by providing information and advice on land capability and land degradation hazards and risks from development.

We advocate rural land-use policies, strategies and plans in Western Australia which support the ongoing operation and expansion of businesses involved in agriculture, aquaculture and food processing  (see Figure 1 as an example).

Figure 1 Market gardens need security of tenure to develop infrastructure

Our department does not routinely provide advice on individual subdivision or other development proposals; instead, we provide strategic advice in the review and development of land-use plans and policies.

Our role in agricultural land-use planning and policy

Our role is to:

• identify the state's best and most productive agricultural land (agricultural land of state, regional and local significance – see high quality agricultural land methodology)
• provide information on  agriculture, aquaculture and food industry development requirements and future demand for land and water resources
• provide advice to the Western Australian Planning Commission on cases before the State Administrative Tribunal, particularly where high quality agricultural land is affected
• identify land-use opportunities matched to land capability and provide advice on preserving high quality agricultural land
• provide advice to planners about land degardation hazards and risks ascoited with development including advice on stocking rates for rural small holdings
• identify potential impacts on agriculture and food industries in planning proposals for urban and semi-rural development and rural growth areas, recognising that such land-use changes have the potential for land-use conflict
• advise on potential impacts from potential urban and rural residential development expansion on high quality agricultural land or land used for agricultural food processing
• work with planning authorities to define clear urban growth boundaries adjacent to agricultural land
• identify suitable separation distances and buffers between land uses potentially competing with agricultural, food production, and processing land to avoid land-use conflict.

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Contacts

You can get advice on agricultural land-use planning matters from the contacts below or email landuse.planning@dpird.wa.gov.au.