City’s population set to double

About 740,000 people are expected to live in Perth's north-west by 2050, more than doubling the present population.

Planning Minister John Day said Perth and Peel@3.5million had identified enough land to meet expected demand for homes and jobs in the sub-region.

The draft framework covers land use in the cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup.

Mr Day said while the present population was distributed evenly between the two, the growth rate would be stronger in Wanneroo because of urban zoned land availability and continued demand for coastal living.

He said about 50,000 of the needed homes would be provided through greater infill development at activity centres including Joondalup, transport corridors and station precincts, along with greater residential density and mixed-use development to revitalise existing suburbs.

"The emerging centres at Yanchep and Alkimos will provide significant numbers of homes," he said.

"Urban expansion and investigation areas have been identified at East Wanneroo and South Pinjar and form a logical consolidation of the existing urban areas."

Mr Day said boosting employment options across the sub-region would require strengthened access to existing and planned transport infrastructure in other sub-regions.

He said an upgrade to existing roads would help urban development within the Yanchep-Two Rocks and east Wanneroo areas, while the possible extension of the northern suburbs passenger railway from Butler to Yanchep would link activity centres and provide employment opportunities.

"A second rail option from Clarkson to the central business district is being investigated. These transport initiatives will contribute to reducing the reliance on roads," he said.

Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts welcomed the draft plan and said an important factor influencing the City's employment and growth was having appropriate transport infrastructure.

"This is why we have been strong advocates of projects including the Northern Suburbs Railway and Mitchell Freeway extension," she said.

"Timely commitment to the provision of key infrastructure is critical to the sustainable development of the corridor."

Yanchep, recognised as the next Strategic Metropolitan Centre after Joondalup in the draft framework, will bring around 25,000 jobs to the area.

"Our Northern Coastal Growth Corridor, which comprises Alkimos, Eglinton, Yanchep and Two Rocks, is expected to welcome 73,000 additional people by 2036 and we are already planning for that growth," Mrs Roberts said.

"We are pleased about the second rail option within the sub-region, recognising the critical importance of public transport in the provision of vibrant and sustainable communities."

The City will assess the draft framework in detail to provide its response to the State Government.

The WA Planning Commission is seeking public comment until the end of July.

What they're saying:

There's nothing in this plan for an integrated and co-ordinated transport network. Perth residents are suffering the consequences of a government that has failed to deliver sensible density planning and vibrant communities in the suburbs for several years.

– Opposition Planning spokeswoman Rita Saffioti

It is essential that these plans can be translated into quality outcomes including high density precincts in the right locations with transitional arrangements to manage the interface with existing housing so that we can maximise liveability in Perth for everybody.

– Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Debra Goostrey

Perth is bursting at the seams and the need for greater urban consolidation, particularly around employment and transport nodes, is paramount to us developing into a vibrant city that provides affordable and appropriate housing options to a growing population. To accommodate this inevitable growth, Perth needs to change its approach to density.

– QWest Paterson chairman Warwick Hemsley