- WAPC sets December 2027 deadline for relocation of East Perth's two concrete batching plants
- Improvement plans created over each site to optimise future use of the land
- Government supports WAPC decision to provide certainty for local residents
Concrete batching plants in East Perth have been given a deadline of December 2027 to relocate their operations by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).
The decision is backed up by the WAPC's creation of two improvement plans - one for each site - in a high-amenity enclave of East Perth.
The improvement plans will give government more capacity to enforce the conditions of approval and monitor progress towards relocation. It also ensures the land can be revitalised after decommissioning of the plants, bringing more homes and businesses to well-connected, central location.
Today's decision by the WAPC comes with strict deadlines the plants' operators must meet to progress relocation.
Rather than support the seven-year extension the operators had applied for, the WAPC instead today approved half that period three-and-a-half years along with a time-bound series of conditions which includes:
- By 1 July 2025, both operators must lodge a development application for an alternative site and reduce operating hours for the East Perth plants;
- A building permit must be lodged within six months of receiving development approval at an alternative site; and
- By 31 December 2027 at the latest, the East Perth plants must cease operating.
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage commissioned an independent report by consultancy firm Pracsys which found that closing the plants immediately could create short term "price shocks" in the concrete market which would impact major CBD construction projects.
The WAPC's media statement, including a summary of the conditions, is available at https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/news-and-media-statements
Comments attributed to Planning Minister John Carey:
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to moving these plants and supports the WAPC's decision to progress the relocation.
"The complexities of moving these plants have been extremely challenging to date, with a number of government agencies and the City of Vincent continuing to work with the plant operators to progress relocation.
"The strict conditions imposed set out a clear pathway to relocate these plants and bring the vision for this urban precinct to life, which the community has been strongly advocating for."
