Rural subdivision gets nod

The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley's local planning strategy has received the go-ahead, paving the way for two rural subdivisions.

They will be the land belonging to John and Pauline Kirby on the banks of the Ord River, opposite River Farm Road, and an area of Commonwealth land near Crossing Falls.

The WA Planning Commission (WAPC) finally endorsed the Shire's Local Planning Strategy on November 1.

More than two years in the making, the strategy was officially endorsed at a meeting of the Statutory Planning Committee of the WAPC.

Shire President Michelle Pucci and Shire town planner Keith Williams were in attendance.

The approval was preceded by a presentation outlining the importance of the document to facilitating development in the Shire.

The formulation of the strategy arose from a need to provide strategic direction for growth in the region.

A local planning strategy provides the framework upon which planning for a local government area is based and, in turn, administered through its local town planning scheme.

As well as forming the basis of the planning scheme, the strategy is also a principal guiding tool for agencies outside of the immediate planning process and for landowners and the private sector, to ensure that planning and development and consequent growth is transparent.

Key issues in the strategy are:

*Identification and release of new rural residential areas;

*The protection of agricultural land, and allowing subordinate land uses to increase viability of agricultural land;

*Extension of development controls over the entire Shire;

*Identification of land for light industrial growth;

*Identification of land for strategic industry [if required for ORIA Stage II];

*Residential densities and new urban growth; and

*Resolution of the boundary of the public drinking water source and its impact on growth.

The strategy has had considerable community input at all stages of preparation and councillors say it is a testament to the passion and vision of the local community.

Council will now progress the land releases identified under the strategy.