Background
The State Government’s planning reforms for short-term rental accommodation came into effect on 18 September 2024 via Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Amendment (Short Term Rental Accommodation) Regulations 2024 (‘STRA Regulations’).
As a result, local governments are required to amend their local planning schemes to ensure a consistent approach to short term rental accommodation. In addition, a number of sites where tourist development was previously permitted and could be developed under Town Planning Scheme 3 requires update and review.
As a result, two amendments are proposed to Local Planning Scheme No 12.
Amendment No 8
Amendment No 8 to Local Planning Scheme No 12 (‘Scheme 12’) is required to ensure alignment with the new ‘deemed’ and ‘model’ land use classes and general definitions introduced into the state planning framework. Most significantly, it includes amendments to reflect the ‘deemed’ land use classes previously identified as ‘holiday homes’ as:
- ‘hosted short-term rental accommodation’ and
- ‘unhosted short-term rental accommodation’,
together with the removal of superseded land uses.
These changes are a result of extensive review from industry and State Government, discussion papers, parliamentary reviews, and regulatory change. The Scheme Amendment report which is available in the Documents link provides further detail and background information on these changes, including specific implications for the City.
There is no change to the Council’s previous approach to ‘holiday homes’ and they will continue to be permitted in Mandurah without the need for approval.
The Western Australian Planning Commission considers the Scheme Amendment to be a 'Standard' due to other changes proposed and therefore requires advertising.
Essentially the proposed changes are updates to terminology to align with state frameworks and are outlined in this table:
Existing Use Class | Proposed Use Class | Land Use Permissibility |
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
| - Hosted Short-Term
Rental Accommodation
| - P in Centre Zones
- X in Business Zones
- P in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
| - Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation
| - D in Centre Zones
- X in Business Zones
- P in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
- Motel
- Serviced Apartment
- Tourist Development
- Holiday Accommodation
| - Tourist and Visitor Accommodation
| - P in Neighbourhood Centre
- D in Local Centre
- X in Business Zones
- A in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
Notes: - P is Permitted (no approval required);
- D is Discretionary (approval required);
- A is Discretionary but must be advertised;
- I is Incidental (meaning it is ancillary to the main use);
- Centre Zones: Neighbourhood Centre and Local Centre
- Business Zones: Service Commercial and General Industry
- Residential Zones: Mixed Use, Residential, Rural Residential, Rural Smallholdings, Rural
- Strategic Centre and District Centre zones reference is provided in Precinct Structure Plans
|
Amendment No 9
Under Town Planning Scheme No 3 (Scheme 3), land located adjacent to, or a part of existing golf courses were included in zones that allowed for or provided for additional development opportunities to allow for tourist accommodation:
- Lot 3000 Meadow Springs Drive (north-west corner) – Meadow Springs Golf Course;
The land was zoned Urban Development and identified as ‘golf course’ within the Meadow Springs Structure Plan, with prior concepts for the master planning of the Meadow Springs estate identifying tourist development opportunities close to the club house and around the remaining vacant land on the corner of Meadow Springs Drive and Oakmont Avenue. No further considerations or discussion have been made for an extended period on the development potential of this land, however, as it is zoned land, it is expected, over time, that opportunities may arise for further dialogue to activate this development site.
- Lot 400 and 401 Country Club Drive, Dawesville – The Cut Clubhouse site
Originally one site, the site was subdivided into two lots to facilitate a tourist / serviced apartment site on Lot 401 in 2015 under previous ownership of the golf course and clubhouse. The golf course itself sits on two separate sites – Lot 1500 (owned in freehold) and Reserve 2851 (lease over a Crown Reserve). Lots 400 and 401 were zoned Urban Development in Scheme 3, with the Southport Structure Plan identifying these lots as ‘Clubhouse’ together with a requirement for this site and adjoining sites to be subject to a Development Guide Plan to determine land use, development outcomes, height, and scale. The subject lots were identified as ‘Clubhouse Site’ with a height of 6 storeys to allow for 34 short stay apartments. Whilst this Development Guide Plan can continue to be referenced as a Local Development Plan for this location, the land use provisions have been replaced by Scheme 12 provisions.
Consequently, modifications to Table 4 of Scheme 12 are proposed to allow Tourist and Visitor Accommodation to be permitted uses.
Next Steps
How you can get involved
We are now seeking community feedback on the Amendment No 8 and Amendment No 9.
There are three ways to submit your feedback:
1. Complete the Submissions survey at the bottom of this page.
2. Make a submission via email to planning@mandurah.wa.gov.au
3. Make a submission via post to City of Mandurah, PO Box 210, Mandurah WA 6210.
The consultation period closes on 19 June 2026.
Background
The State Government’s planning reforms for short-term rental accommodation came into effect on 18 September 2024 via Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Amendment (Short Term Rental Accommodation) Regulations 2024 (‘STRA Regulations’).
As a result, local governments are required to amend their local planning schemes to ensure a consistent approach to short term rental accommodation. In addition, a number of sites where tourist development was previously permitted and could be developed under Town Planning Scheme 3 requires update and review.
As a result, two amendments are proposed to Local Planning Scheme No 12.
Amendment No 8
Amendment No 8 to Local Planning Scheme No 12 (‘Scheme 12’) is required to ensure alignment with the new ‘deemed’ and ‘model’ land use classes and general definitions introduced into the state planning framework. Most significantly, it includes amendments to reflect the ‘deemed’ land use classes previously identified as ‘holiday homes’ as:
- ‘hosted short-term rental accommodation’ and
- ‘unhosted short-term rental accommodation’,
together with the removal of superseded land uses.
These changes are a result of extensive review from industry and State Government, discussion papers, parliamentary reviews, and regulatory change. The Scheme Amendment report which is available in the Documents link provides further detail and background information on these changes, including specific implications for the City.
There is no change to the Council’s previous approach to ‘holiday homes’ and they will continue to be permitted in Mandurah without the need for approval.
The Western Australian Planning Commission considers the Scheme Amendment to be a 'Standard' due to other changes proposed and therefore requires advertising.
Essentially the proposed changes are updates to terminology to align with state frameworks and are outlined in this table:
Existing Use Class | Proposed Use Class | Land Use Permissibility |
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
| - Hosted Short-Term
Rental Accommodation
| - P in Centre Zones
- X in Business Zones
- P in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
| - Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation
| - D in Centre Zones
- X in Business Zones
- P in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
- Motel
- Serviced Apartment
- Tourist Development
- Holiday Accommodation
| - Tourist and Visitor Accommodation
| - P in Neighbourhood Centre
- D in Local Centre
- X in Business Zones
- A in Residential Zones
- P in Tourism Zone
|
Notes: - P is Permitted (no approval required);
- D is Discretionary (approval required);
- A is Discretionary but must be advertised;
- I is Incidental (meaning it is ancillary to the main use);
- Centre Zones: Neighbourhood Centre and Local Centre
- Business Zones: Service Commercial and General Industry
- Residential Zones: Mixed Use, Residential, Rural Residential, Rural Smallholdings, Rural
- Strategic Centre and District Centre zones reference is provided in Precinct Structure Plans
|
Amendment No 9
Under Town Planning Scheme No 3 (Scheme 3), land located adjacent to, or a part of existing golf courses were included in zones that allowed for or provided for additional development opportunities to allow for tourist accommodation:
- Lot 3000 Meadow Springs Drive (north-west corner) – Meadow Springs Golf Course;
The land was zoned Urban Development and identified as ‘golf course’ within the Meadow Springs Structure Plan, with prior concepts for the master planning of the Meadow Springs estate identifying tourist development opportunities close to the club house and around the remaining vacant land on the corner of Meadow Springs Drive and Oakmont Avenue. No further considerations or discussion have been made for an extended period on the development potential of this land, however, as it is zoned land, it is expected, over time, that opportunities may arise for further dialogue to activate this development site.
- Lot 400 and 401 Country Club Drive, Dawesville – The Cut Clubhouse site
Originally one site, the site was subdivided into two lots to facilitate a tourist / serviced apartment site on Lot 401 in 2015 under previous ownership of the golf course and clubhouse. The golf course itself sits on two separate sites – Lot 1500 (owned in freehold) and Reserve 2851 (lease over a Crown Reserve). Lots 400 and 401 were zoned Urban Development in Scheme 3, with the Southport Structure Plan identifying these lots as ‘Clubhouse’ together with a requirement for this site and adjoining sites to be subject to a Development Guide Plan to determine land use, development outcomes, height, and scale. The subject lots were identified as ‘Clubhouse Site’ with a height of 6 storeys to allow for 34 short stay apartments. Whilst this Development Guide Plan can continue to be referenced as a Local Development Plan for this location, the land use provisions have been replaced by Scheme 12 provisions.
Consequently, modifications to Table 4 of Scheme 12 are proposed to allow Tourist and Visitor Accommodation to be permitted uses.
Next Steps
How you can get involved
We are now seeking community feedback on the Amendment No 8 and Amendment No 9.
There are three ways to submit your feedback:
1. Complete the Submissions survey at the bottom of this page.
2. Make a submission via email to planning@mandurah.wa.gov.au
3. Make a submission via post to City of Mandurah, PO Box 210, Mandurah WA 6210.
The consultation period closes on 19 June 2026.
