PLANNING is underway to accommodate 1.26 million people in Perth's south metropolitan and Peel region by 2050, more than doubling the current population.
Planning Minister John Day said Perth and Peel@3.5million had identified enough land for urban and employment to meet the expected demand for homes and jobs in the sub-region.
The draft plan covers the cities of Armadale, Cockburn, Gosnells, Kwinana, Mandurah and Rockingham and the shires of Murray, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Waroona.
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READ NOW"This sub-region will play a significant role in accommodating a substantial population growth, through development in the major activity centres of Mandurah, Rockingham and Armadale, as well as Baldivis-Karnup and Ravenswood-West Pinjarra," Mr Day said.
"Almost half the required homes will be provided through greater infill development at activity centres, transport corridors and station precincts, coupled with greater residential density and mixed-use development to revitalise existing suburbs.
"Other identified urban expansion and investigation areas include Banjup, Orange Grove, west Martin, Champion Lakes, Forrestdale, Cardup and Mundijong."
Future development will also occur on land already zoned urban between Wandi and Karnup, near Mandurah and Pinjarra, as well as Armadale, Byford and Mundijong.
Mr Day said more jobs would be created by opening up more land around the existing Kwinana industrial area, the Australian Marine Complex and Latitude 32.
Other areas identified for employment-generating development and/or expansion include Nambeelup industrial area, Cockburn Central, Maddington town centre, Karnup and Ravenswood.
"This region will provide significant future employment opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing, construction, retail, health and social assistance areas," he said.
The future regional road network could include a number of new and upgraded major roads.
An extension of Tonkin Highway southward to connect with the Forrest Highway south-west of Pinjarra is identified as a possibility in the plan, to carry a significant share of the increased north-south traffic.
A strategic link to alleviate growing traffic volumes on the Kwinana Freeway is also being investigated.
Fact File Population: 523,406 (2011) to 1.26 million (2050); Jobs: 143,971 (2011) to 437,725 (2050); Homes: 205,493 (2011) to 507,670 (2050) Submissions close on Friday, July 31 at 5pm. More information http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/3_5million