Local councils put on notice to fast-track granny flats or the Government will step in

John Carey has declared some local councils need a “kick up the bum” to lift the pace of residential development across Perth.

The Planning Minister revealed the State Government is considering forcing local governments to fast-track planning approvals for carports, renovations and granny flats.

He told a Budget estimates hearing in Parliament that he’s regularly flooded with complaints by builders, that small projects are facing long delays.

“I am keen to work with the Minister for Local Government to get to a stage where we can mandate public bench-marking of local governments for those smaller planning approvals,” he said on Thursday night.

“Some may call it name and shame, but you get performance when you hold people to account. The State is held accountable via the Parliament, local governments do not necessarily have the same scrutiny.”

Mr Carey again singled out Nedlands, after previously calling for mayor Fiona Argyle to resign over a bitter battle over land next to a children’s hospice that is under construction in Swanbourne.

But Mr Carey said other councils are also “failing dismally” and stalling simple permits.

“Metro local governments are well-resourced and can get staff better because of their location and closeness to the city, but some of them are not doing their job,” he said.

“They need a kick up the bum.”

The WA Local Government Association defended the performance of councils on Friday and accused the Cook Government of “eroding” local government’s role.

“WALGA is not aware of any evidence that supports the Minister’s obsessive commentary that Local Government’s are holding up the planning process or approvals,” WALGA President Karen Chappel said.

“Local Government is, and has always been, the backbone of the planning system, determining more than 20,000 proposals each year, despite the State Government’s continued erosion of Local Government in planning and approvals, often with little or no consultation.

“Ninety four per cent of building permits are issued within the statutory timeframe.”

Mr Carey did praise the City of Stirling for cutting red tape, and Busselton in the State’s South West.

“We are looking at supporting regional local governments by having group design review panels,” he said.

“I want to work with regional local governments on the way that we can pool resources to fast-track processes if that is required, and I think that is a viable opportunity.

“Some regional local governments are like Busselton, which has been trying to grapple with the short-term rental accommodation and short-term rentals and has been doing a good job.”