State Government takes control over three station precincts

THE State Government will have control over developments in the Midland, Bayswater and Forrestfield station precincts as part of the Metronet project.

The stations form part of the Metronet East Redevelopment Area which aims to maximise development opportunities and provide market certainty in areas surrounding the Morley-Ellenbrook train line.

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) will start on the process to extend the Midland Redevelopment Area to include the immediate areas around the Bayswater and Forrestfield train stations.

It is expected the statutory process for Bayswater and Forrestfield will take about 12 months, with the WA Planning Commission placing Planning Control Areas in the precincts in the meantime.

Cities of Bayswater, Kalamunda and Swan will be consulted on an amendment to the existing Midland Redevelopment Scheme.

In Bayswater, the Planning Control Area for the construction of the Bayswater station has been finalised.

The redevelopment area and scheme can now be progressed and completed early next year.

The MRA will work with the City of Bayswater to ensure the Bayswater Town Centre Structure Plan includes the new planning framework while the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will help the City finalise planning for the areas of the structure plan that fell outside the redevelopment area.

There is also a Planning Control Area in place in Forrestfield north and the redevelopment area and scheme will also be progressed.

The City of Kalamunda will continue to be responsible for planning within the Forrestfield north area outside the redevelopment area.

The existing Midland Redevelopment Area and scheme will remain.

Meanwhile, City of Swan representatives on the MRA’s Land Redevelopment Committee, which is responsible for some planning decisions in the redevelopment area, will stay on the committee with Bayswater and Kalamunda representatives being added in the future.

Works at Forrestfield Station are well underway, with the station building and construction of a 150m-long central platform.

A 1200-bay multi-deck car will start construction next year.

The Bayswater station upgrade tender process has started, with works expected to start in 2019.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said the Metronet East area would create more housing and employment choices.

“The best possible outcome for each of the Metronet East precincts would be for them to develop into more attractive areas for people to live, work and visit for recreation,” she said.

“Each of the precincts will be different to build on what is already great about the communities the redeveloped stations will service.”

Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull urged the MRA to work with the local community and the City so future development took into account the character and heritage of the neighbourhood and tree canopy was protected and enhanced.

For information, visit https://www.metronet.wa.gov.au/