Perth Voice Interactive

STIRLING council has taken a small, but significant step in its dream of creating a new city centre of 65,000 residents.

The council has sent a planning scheme amendment to the WA Planning Commission for ratification by the planning minister after discovering new regulations had significantly watered down its power to control development in the area.

The new regulations meant that developers within the 716-hectare structure plan area between Herdsman Lake and Karrinyup Road wouldn’t have been bound by its provisions.

Stirling city planning manager Fraser Henderson said the plan, which has resulted from 10 years of planning work, has been supported by the local community.

The plan is anticipated to result in 33,600 additional homes and create 82,000 jobs. It features a light rail along the Ellen Stirling Boulevard.

According to Mr Henderson, Stirling can start implementing their vision once the amendment has been approved by the planning minister.

by CHARLIE SMITH