Regional Planning In Western Australia: New Initiatives, But Old Problems?

Abstract

The aim of regional planning is to better manage, or at least influence, the development of a region in the interests of society. Unfortunately much regional planning activity often fails to clear the ‘plan formulation-implementation gap’. Much of the regional planning in Western Australia, with a few notable exceptions, is illustrative of this problem. But recent activity and initiatives in regional planning and development in and for the State suggest that there are some reasons to be hopeful. This paper provides an update on Federal initiatives (partly disturbed by the advent of the Coalition Government), and especially on State initiatives. The latter include, inter alia, the new Regional Development Commissions, Regional Planning activity for country regions, the State Planning Strategy and aspirations for regional empowerment, whole of government and whole of environment approaches. However the paper also identifies several unresolved problems which may limit the regional revival. A number of suggestions for possible ways forward conclude the paper.