FAQs

Activity centres (colloquially known as city or town centres) are community focal points designed to be well serviced by public transport. They include activities such as commercial, retail, higher density housing, entertainment, tourism, civic/community, education and/or medical services.

Morley has been identified as a 'Strategic Metropolitan Centre', which is a high level activity centre. These centres provide the full range of economic and community services necessary for the communities in their catchment areas. As a strategic metropolitan centre, the Morley activity centre is second only to the central Perth area and of equal importance to other major centres such as Fremantle, Joondalup, Stirling, Midland, Canning and Mandurah.

A structure plan is a framework which guides planning for future development within the area. It operates like a mini town planning scheme where properties/areas are zoned and provided with a set of development standards including building height, residential density, setbacks and car parking requirements among others things.

A structure plan does not propose any development; it merely provides a platform and framework for development to occur. In the end, it will be up to the relevant landowners and stakeholders to decide if they want to develop.  

The structure plan is required for three (3) critical reasons:

1. The development of the area is currently directed by the 1992 Morley Structure Plan, which is essentially the 1992 vision for the area. This vision has not been realised and is required to be updated to reflect the City's current vision and goals for the activity centre.
2. The current town planning scheme for Morley, which is based on the 1992 Morley Structure Plan, is considered restrictive, particularly in terms of land use. These statutory provisions need to be changed to provide a more robust planning framework with the ability to stimulate and promote the redevelopment of the area. 
3. It is a requirement of the Western Australian Planning Commission's (WAPC) State Planning Policy 4.2 - 'Activity Centres for Perth and Peel' that a structure plan is prepared for major centres such as Morley. The WAPC expects that the new Structure Plan will reflect the objectives of the Activity Centres Policy.

The Morley City Centre Masterplan (2010) provided future visions for the area whereas the structure plan seeks to build on these visions and implement them through appropriate statutory provisions.

The proposed structure plan would address matters that are not fully addressed in detail in the 2010 Masterplan, including (but not limited to):

• Development controls (for example, specifically how high buildings should be, what they should look like and where they should be located);
• Specific land uses that are to be promoted and/or controlled in the centre;
• Guidance on the growth of the retail and commercial sectors;
• The level of residential included in specific areas;
• What types of residential dwellings will be encouraged to promote an active and vibrant centre;
• Traffic and access measures to inform future traffic, public transport, cyclist and pedestrian movement and proactively address issues such as car parking; and
• How to improve the amenity of streetscapes and public spaces.

If your property is within the boundaries on the attached map, the City is considering modifications to the planning/development requirements for your area. You may gain some additional development potential as a result of this structure plan. However, whether you act upon this or whether you choose to redevelop is entirely up to you.

Comments provided via the survey or forum on this website will help us to determine appropriate zonings/densities across the structure plan area.

If your property is adjacent to the activity centre, you may be affected by development that occurs within the centre. Any effects of future development will be carefully considered by the City when preparing the structure plan. Impact on surrounding properties is also carefully considered during the planning application stage and you will be consulted about development which does not meet the structure plan requirements and has a potential impact on adjoining properties.

No. You may gain some additional development potential, but whether you act on this is up to you.

The structure plan will not require you to demolish your property unless you wish to do so.

The Western Australian Planning Commission aims for between 5,500 and 8,200 dwellings in the Morley activity centre by 2031. This means that at least some parts of the Morley Activity Centre will need to incorporate higher density housing.

Many people picture 'high density housing' as 8-10 storey blocks of flats (such as those built in Maylands in the 1960s). However, this is not the case any more. For higher density areas, the structure plan will include specific criteria such that buildings are of a high quality design that enhances the amenity of the area. Many developments within the central part of Morley are expected to have shops, cafes or other commercial uses on their ground floor. Studies have also shown that higher density housing has a range of benefits including decreasing private car use as well as a number of health and community benefits.

As the activity centre develops over time, there is expected to be some increased traffic in and around the centre. The City will continue to monitor traffic in the future and incorporate mitigation measures where appropriate. Large scale developments will be required to implement measures to manage or mitigate additional traffic.

During 2013, the City appointed consultants to undertake a comprehensive transport assessment for the Morley activity centre. The City will endeavour to implement the recommendations of the transport assessment. A copy of this report can be viewed under the 'document library', which you can access from the home page.

A structure plan is a long term guiding document which will help to guide public and private investment and will allow the activity centre to evolve over the years. The City of Bayswater will work closely with the community, landowners and other stakeholders to begin the revitalisation of the activity centre in both the short and long term.

1. Following preliminary community feedback, the City's officers will prepare a draft structure plan.
2. After Council endorses the draft structure plan, this will be made available for public comment.
3. Following public comment on the draft structure plan, any required modifications will be made and Council will adopt the final structure plan.
4. The adopted structure plan is then forwarded to the Western Australian Planning Commission for final approval and the relevant rezonings will take place.
5. Any required rezonings are approved by the Minister for Planning.