Town Planning

Planning and Development Services

Welcome to the Shire of Ravensthorpe Planning and Development Services Webpage. This page provides a wide range of information on the town planning process to assist landowners and developers.

Please scroll down and click on the links below to view the information of interest.

Town Planning

Council is responsible for the orderly planning and development of the Shire of Ravensthorpe. Town planning in the Shire consists of two main elements – statutory planning and strategic land use planning.

Statutory Planning:

Statutory functions include:

The control of the use and development of land under Shire of Ravensthorpe Town Planning Scheme No.5.
Assessing applications for the subdivision of land in the Shire.
Processing matters relating to crown land and reserves in the Shire under the Land Administration Act.
Dealing with heritage issues under the Heritage Act.

Strategic Land Use Planning:

Council has prepared a Local Planning Strategy that provides a 15 year strategy for land use planning within the Shire. The general long term land use planning requirements for the Shire are identified in this document for incorporation into the Town Planning Scheme. The first of its kind endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission in 2003, the purpose of the Strategy is to ensure that current planning decisions do not impact on the ability of the Shire to cater for future growth and development in the longer term.

The current development boom in the Shire has led to a need to review the current Local Planning Strategy to ensure it remains relevant given the current economic climate and revised population projections. The Shire is committed to continuing to ensure quality strategic planning decisions can be made that engage community aspirations for the future of our Shire.

Town Planning Scheme No.5

Town Planning Scheme No.5 was gazetted in 2003 and controls the use and development of land within the entire Shire of Ravensthorpe. The Scheme uses a variety of zones and reservations to control the types of development that can be established in various areas of the Shire.

A copy of Town Planning Scheme No.5 (text and maps) is available to be downloaded from the Western Australian Planning Commission’s website.

Planning Approval

Planning approval is required for many types of development and uses in the Shire. Download the ‘Planning Approvals FAQ’s’ brochure for information on whether your development requires approval.

A copy of the Planning Application Form can be downloaded. Planning application fees apply.

Some Planning Applications are required to be considered at a monthly Ordinary Council Meeting. Consequently, monthly cut-off dates for the lodgement of applications that are required to go to a meeting apply. Please download the current Financial Year’s cut-off dates (2007-2008). Cut off dates for the financial year 2007-2008 may be viewed here.

Some applications that comply with relevant Council requirements will be approved by the Chief Executive Officer under delegated authority from Council. The monthly cut-off date does not apply in this case and the Shire will endeavour to determine your application within approximately 3-4 weeks from lodgement of a completed application.

The Difference between Planning and Building Approvals

Some people are confused by the need to obtain two separate approvals in order to build their development.

The first approval is called Planning Approval, or sometimes Development Approval. Planning Approval is where Council gives approval to use or develop land. The use and development of land is controlled by a legal instrument called a town planning scheme. The Shire assesses a proposed development or use against the objectives and requirements of the town planning scheme and can approve or refuse an application. A Planning Approval is not always required, as some types of developments are exempt.

The second approval is needed where you are building a structure and is called a Building Licence. Even if you have obtained planning approval, you will still need a Building Licence to certify that your structure complies with the Building Code of Australia and any relevant standards. The reason there are two approvals is that the Building Licence relates only to the detailed construction and engineering of buildings and not to whether the proposed building or use is appropriate for that location.

Land Subdivision / Amalgamation

New lots are created through the land subdivision and amalgamation process. This process is controlled by the Western Australian Planning Commission, with assistance from local government. For more information, download the ‘Land Subdivision FAQ’s’ brochure.

A subdivision application form and application guide can be downloaded from the Western Australian Planning Commission’s website.

Home Occupation / Home Business

If you wish to conduct a business from home, you may require Council Planning Approval. For more information, download the 'Home Occupation FAQ's' brochure.

Extractive Industry

The mining of non-mineral basic raw materials such as gravel, sand and limestone in the General Agriculture Zone requires Council Planning Approval. For more information, download the 'Extractive Industry FAQ's' brochure.

Single Houses in the Residential Zone

Planning approval is not normally required for new single houses and outbuildings in the Residential Zone. However, if the house does not comply with the ‘Acceptable Development’ provisions of the Residential Design Codes, Council approval of the variation to the Codes is required. Application is made on the R-Codes Variation Form and a $62 fee (GST exempt) is payable.

Please note that your application will need to be considered at a monthly Council Meeting, for which monthly cut-off dates apply (see the Planning Approval section above).

A copy of the Residential Design Codes can be downloaded from the Western Australian Planning Commission’s website.

House Building in the Mary Ann Waters Estate

In addition to the Residential Design Codes, special Residential Design Guidelines apply to the development of housing in the Mary Ann Waters Estate in Hopetoun. These guidelines are summarised in the Mary Ann Waters brochure. The full Guidelines are contained in Local Planning Policy No.2.

Outbuildings (Sheds) in the Residential Zone

The development of outbuildings (sheds) in the Residential zone is controlled by Local Planning Policy No.11 ‘Outbuildings in the Residential and Town Centre Zones’ instead of the Residential Design Codes. Where a shed meets the ‘Acceptable Development’ provisions of Part 6 of the Policy, only a Building Licence is required.

An information brochure 'Building a Shed in the Residential Zone' has been prepared that outlines the Acceptable Development provisions.

If you wish to obtain permission to build an outbuilding that exceeds the Acceptable Development provisions contained in LPP 11, you will need to lodge an Outbuildings Variation Form together with an application fee of $62 (GST exempt).

Single Houses and Outbuildings (Sheds) in the Rural Conservation and Rural Small Holding Zones

Planning approval is required for all developments in the Rural Conservation and Rural Small Holding Zones in the Shire. This approval is in addition to any Building Licence you may require for the structure you wish to construct.

Special Scheme Provisions are incorporated into the town planning scheme that relate to the specific requirements in each area that is zoned Rural Conservation or Rural Small Holding. Copies of the Scheme Provisions for each area can be downloaded.

The development of Single Houses in these zones is controlled by Local Planning Policy No. 6 'Residential Design Guidelines for the Rural Conservation and Rural Small Holding Zones'. This policy is summarised in a brochure.

The development of Outbuildings (sheds) is controlled by Local Planning Policy No.1 'Outbuildings in the Rural Conservation and Rural Small Holding Zones'. The requirements of the Policy are summarised in the 'Building a Shed' brochure.

Building Envelopes

In the Rural Conservation Zone areas, there is a requirement for all buildings and other structures to be located within a building envelope that is approved by the Council in accordance with the Scheme Provisions that relate to that particular site.

In Krystal Park, Lakes Entrance and Beach Barron Estates, the building envelope must be approved at the same time as any Planning Application for development. The envelope must be shown on the site plan lodged with the application.

In West Beach and Whale Bay Estates, pre-approved envelopes exist. Should you wish to move the envelope, you will be required to lodge a Building Envelope Variation Form together with a $62 fee (GST exempt). Please note that your application will need to be considered at a monthly Council Meeting, for which monthly cut-off dates apply (see the Planning Approval section above).

Relocation and Use of Second-hand Dwellings

The relocation and use of second-hand dwellings in the Shire of Ravensthorpe requires Planning Approval in all zones prior to issue of a Building Licence.

For further information please download a copy of the Second-hand Dwellings Brochure. The brochure outlines the approval process, information required to be lodged with a Planning Application, and the conditions that Council will consider placing on any approval. This brochure is based on Local Planning Policy No.7 ‘Relocation and Use of Second-hand Dwellings’.

Energy and Water Efficiency Recommendations

The Shire has prepared a number of recommendations to promote energy and water efficiency in new homes. These recommendations are non-binding, but have been provided in the spirit of promoting sustainability in the Shire.

Application Forms

Click to download the following forms:

Planning Application Form

Outbuildings Variation Form

Building Envelope Variation Form

Council Meeting Cut-off Dates for Applications
Planning Applications that will require consideration at the monthly Ordinary Meeting of Council are subject to a monthly cut-off date. The current financial year's cut-off dates can be downloaded.