About the WAPC

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) has state-wide responsibility for urban, rural and regional integrated strategic and statutory land use planning and land development. Its functions and authority to undertake and regulate land use planning and development is established under the Planning and Development Act 2005.

The WAPC operates with the support of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage which provides professional and technical expertise, administrative services and corporate resources to assist its decision-making. Some WAPC functions such as decisions on subdivision and development applications are also delegated to the department.

The WAPC’s responsibilities include:

• advising the Minister for Planning on strategic land use planning and land development, legislation reform and local planning schemes 
• making statutory decisions on a range of planning application types 
• implementing the State Planning Strategy to provide a vision for the future development of Western Australia 
• developing integrated land use planning strategies for the coordinated provision of transport and infrastructure for land development
• preparing and reviewing region schemes to cater for anticipated growth 
• monitoring and forecasting land supply throughout the State and developing strategies for the timely supply of affordable residential land 
• researching and developing planning methods and models relating to land use planning, land development and associated matters 
• acquiring land for public requirement reservations in region planning schemes and negotiating compensation for affected landowners.

WAPC useful publications