West Coast Times
State Government to take over New Planning Regulations:
This means that the Western Australian State Government will be assuming responsibility for developing and enforcing planning regulations in the state, instead of local councils. This could potentially lead to greater consistency and coherence in planning across the state, but may also be met with some resistance from local councils who may feel that they are best placed to understand the needs and priorities of their local communities.
When it comes to planning regulations we each have our own individual agendas, including householders, tenants, councillors, mayors, council administrators, and the state government, to say nothing of the land owners, the developers, the builders, and even the tradies and materials suppliers etc.
The government have recently introduced changes to planning regulations because we absolutely have to get on with building new houses before all of the proposed new immigrants start to arrive from overseas, and there is little time available for dilly-dallying.
The current economic situations in many overseas countries, especially the UK, and the comparatively good economic situation in WA and in the other states, offer golden opportunities to increase the population of the state by bringing in large numbers of skilled migrants who are currently experiencing economic challenges in their own countries. However, this window of opportunity may only last for a relatively short period of time, hence the high level of urgency.
I spoke with some local business people the other day, and one business owner told me that the local motor repair industry for example desperately needs up to 800 motor mechanics, otherwise locals may be unable to get their cars repaired when something goes wrong with them. Also, we don't have enough tradespeople in the building industry to build houses for the needs of locals, which is in part the cause of current high housing prices and rental costs and shortages in the state. Also, many accommodation investors have overstretched themselves, and are now struggling to pay higher interest rates on their investment loans, which is also contributing to higher rental costs.
On May 1st, 2021, Western Australia's building regulations were updated with a range of new requirements that affect both builders and homeowners. These changes are designed to improve building standards and ensure that homes in Western Australia are safer and more energy-efficient. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the new regulations and what they mean for you.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most significant changes in the new regulations is the increased emphasis on energy efficiency. All new homes and apartments must now comply with a minimum 6-star energy rating. This means that homes must meet certain energy efficiency standards in areas such as insulation, glazing, and heating and cooling systems. In addition to this, builders must now provide a sustainability declaration to their clients. This declaration outlines the energy efficiency features of the home and provides advice on how to maintain these features. This is designed to help homeowners understand how to make the most of their energy-efficient homes and reduce their energy bills.
Fire Safety
Another major change in the new regulations is the increased focus on fire safety. All new homes and apartments must now include smoke alarms in every bedroom, as well as in hallways connecting bedrooms to the rest of the house. In addition to this, all smoke alarms must now be interconnected, so that if one alarm goes off, all alarms in the house will sound.
Stories by: Boz