The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, in conjunction with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure is developing a Townsite Strategy.
The aim of the Townsite Strategy is to provide guidance and direction on the sustainable development of the town sites within the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup for the next 10 to 15 years and promote rational decision making for the future zoning, subdivision and development of land within and around the town sites. The Strategy is to complement the Shire’s Local Rural Strategy and aid in the development of the Shire’s Local Planning Strategy.
The Strategy will ensure the change within the town sites creates a positive rather than a negative impact. In particular, the Strategy will aim to protect the essential and distinct qualities of the area – its tourism values, valuable agricultural resource and laidback lifestyle – whilst balancing growth and development pressures.
The Strategy will position Donnybrook-Balingup to take full advantage of changing social/cultural, economic and physical circumstances, providing an appropriate basis for managing change and improving the amenity of the Donnybrook-Balingup area.
At its meeting of 22 October 2008 Council resolved to adopt the Townsite Expansion Strategy subject to minor textual modifications and inclusion of Lot 2 Old Padbury Road, Balingup into the Townsite Expansion Area. Following revision of the document to include such modifications the Shire will refer the Strategy to the Western Australian Planning Commission for endorsement. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be endorsed by the WAPC in early 2009. The Shire would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their involvement in this process and welcomes ongoing feedback in respect to planning operations.
