Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre

	Page Index Activity Centre Plan Background Sector 1 - City Centre Sector 2 - Waterfront Village Sector 3 - Smart Village Infrastructure Development Strategy (IDS) for the Centre Plan  What's Next? Downloads

 Activity Centre Plan

State Planning Policy 4.2 - Activity Centres for Perth and Peel (SPP 4.2) requires the City of Rockingham to prepare and maintain an endorsed Activity Centre Structure Plan to guide development within the Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre.

Consistent with the regional context of the Rockingham Activity Centre, and in satisfaction of the requirements of SPP 4.2, the City, in conjunction with the Department of Planning and the Rockingham Kwinana Development Office, has completed a major two stage review and expansion of its 1995 Development Policy Plan for the Strategic Metropolitan Centre.

The purpose of the review was to update the existing plans for the Strategic Metropolitan Centre, to prepare a contemporary overall Structure Plan to guide the future development of public and private property within the Centre.

Key issues addressed during the review process were:-

-  an update of the existing 1995 Development Policy Plan (DPP)
-  investigation of the Ministerial Enquiry by Design (EbD) Outcomes
-  review road hierarchy and update traffic and parking studies
-  review land uses in City Centre
-  establish Murdoch University land requirements
-  identify Transit Oriented Development opportunities
-  identify infrastructure requirements within the City Centre
-  identify potential sites for a proposed Contemporary and Performing Arts Complex

The planning envelope covers nearly 600 hectares stretching from the Rockingham Train Station to Rockingham Beach and includes the City Centre, the Rockingham Waterfront Village, the joint tertiary education campuses and associated service commercial, residential and recreation areas.
 

Figure 1 - Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre Planning Envelope

The Centre Plan will accommodate a sophisticated coastal Activity Centre servicing an ultimate population of 275,000 people in Rockingham and Kwinana.

The Vision is for a modern, distinctly coastal centre offering a wide range of mixed uses including retail, commercial, office, civic, residential, education, cultural and recreation within an accessible and highly inter-connected, urban-scaled townscape, comprising a major activity centre and related urban villages based on 'main street' principles.

Development will be defined and characterised by:-

• Medium to high density development based on activated 'main street' principles.
• A configuration of generally contiguous street front buildings and a mix of uses that generate high levels of pedestrian activity and a sense of vitality.
• A street-based transit system, with closely spaced stops.
• A permeable network of streets, laneways, arcades and public spaces that provide high quality linkages, particularly for pedestrians, to Centre activities.
• An identifiable City Centre hub to provide major CBD functions.
• Connected village precincts between the City Centre and Rockingham Beach along the route of the transit system.

In September 2009, Council adopted the Final Strategic Planning Reports for the Centre.  The Western Australian Planning Commission endorsed the reports in November 2009.

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Background

The planning and development of the Strategic Metropolitan Centre has been guided by the City Centre Development Policy Plan (DPP) which was incorporated into the Town Planning Scheme in 1995.  The DPP is based in the principles of a 'main street' town centre with mixed use, street front development framing an activated public domain in the City Centre.

The review of the DPP commenced in late 2006, following the completion of a Ministerial Enquiry by Design process into the expansion of the shopping centre.

With continuing growth in the region and the construction of the City Centre Transit System, a broader and more comprehensive Centre Plan was required to provide a long term vision and an integrated planning framework for development of the area.

Stage 1 of the review was adopted in February 2008 with the completion of an overall Framework Plan which illustrated how development could be arranged across the Centre.  The Plan provided for a transit oriented land use pattern with greatly improved access and connectivity.

Figure 2 - Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre Framework Plan

Particular emphasis given to improved north-south connectivity.  Importantly, the plan made the local transit system the focus of an intensified corridor of mixed use development between the City Centre, education campuses and the beachfront.

The plan focused on areas where there is the greatest potential and priority for integrated Transit Oriented Development, including land in the City Centre, Waterfront Village and along the City Centre Transit System.

Stage 2 was undertaken during 2008-2009 and contained general guidelines (Sector Briefs) for the City Centre, Waterfront Village, two proposed 'Smart Villages' and related residential areas and more detailed Precinct and Sub-Precinct guidelines to accompany the updated City Centre Indicative Development Plan (IDP).

Figure 3 - Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre Sector Plan

The Stage 2 Reports were on public display for 6 weeks during May and June 2009.

An extensive public consultation programme was undertaken, including static displays, public exhibition sessions and detailed briefings to Government agencies and key stakeholders.  The Stage 2 Reports were posted on the City's website and eight half page colour advertisements were placed in local newspapers.

Letterbox drops of the Summary Brochure were undertaken to over 2,500 homes within the study area.  Summary brochures were sent to all commercial landowners in the City Centre core and to all Real Estate agents operating in Rockingham.

At the conclusion of the consultation period, the City had received seven submissions.

In September 2009, Council adopted the Stage 2 Reports as the Final Strategic Planning Reports, subject to minor modifications to accommodate issues raised during the consultation phase.

In November 2009, the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) endorsed the Stage 2 Reports to guide the future development of the City Centre.

In February 2010, Council considered reports which dealt with conversion of the Centre Plan Reports into a Town Planning Scheme framework, a DPP for the City Centre Sector and zoning amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme.

In May 2010, the City advertised Amendment No.91 to Town Planning Scheme No.2 (TPS2) to implement the agreed planning framework and the City Centre Sector of the approved Centre Plan into the Scheme.  Concurrently, the DPP for the City Centre Sector was also advertised.

Both the Scheme Amendment and the DPP were advertised for public comment for 42 days, during May and June 2010.

Amendment No.91 was gazetted into TPS2 on 18 February 2011.  Concurrently, the DPP of the City Centre Sector was adopted.

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Sector 1 - City Centre

Location

The City Centre Sector is generally bounded by Council Avenue, Read Street, Leghorn Street, Success Drive, Marks Place, Louise Street and its extension through to Council Avenue.

Figure 4 - Sector 1 - City Centre Sector

Desired Future Character

The City Centre will continue to be the tertiary economic and employment focus of the Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre with the retail anchor of an expanded shopping centre merging with Main Street mixed use development, civic buildings and major public spaces including the City Square and the proposed Central Promenade Piazza.  Provision will be made for higher density offices and residential apartments over street level retail and commercial tenancies.

Preferred Uses

• Appropriate TOD uses lining the Transit Route
• Retail at ground level in a "Main Street" configuration
• Streetfront mixed uses including offices and apartments
• Restaurants, small bars and cafés
• Civic and cultural uses, possible Contemporary Arts Centre
• Medium to high density residential
• Serviced apartments
• Public carparks
• Passive parkland

 Implementation

The Development Policy Plan for the City Centre Sector became operational on 18 February 2011.

Figure 5 - City Centre Sector - Indicative Development Plan

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Sector 2 - Waterfront Village

Location

The Waterfront Village Sector is generally bounded by the coast, Wanliss Street, Cessnock Way, Read Street, Greene Street, Ryan Street, Houston Street, Langley Street and Florence Street.
 

Figure 6 - Sector 2 - Waterfront Village Sector

Desired Future Character

Port Rockingham was once the busiest port in the State by tonnage of goods shipped through the jetties at the end of Railway Terrace.  The associated beachfront and townsite was subsequently transformed into one of the State's favourite family holiday and day trip destinations.  With the shifting south of many of its commercial and civic functions to the new Regional Centre in the early 1970's, the historic 'main street' centre retained a compact townscape character well suited to the demands of a contemporary urban waterfront lifestyle.

The emerging Waterfront Village will continue with its transformation into a regionally significant beachfront hub with further redevelopment  of under-utilised public and private properties.  An attractive mix of medium to high density residential and short-stay apartments, hospitality-focussed retail, offices and urban waterfront recreation uses will combine to make this a priority destination on the Rockingham coastline.

Preferred Uses

• Appropriate TOD uses lining the Transit Route
• Mixed use, urban-scaled development
• Residential (medium to high density)
• Services apartments
• Entertainment/hospitality
• Possible Contemporary Arts Centre
• Restaurants, small bars and cafés
• Local convenience retailing
• Public carparks
• Passive Parkland

Implementation

The City has finalised the Waterfront Village Sector DPP and an expanded IDP and updated Planning Policy No.3.2.5 – Rockingham Beach Waterfront Village to incorporate both.

An update to the previously separate Rockingham Beach Building Height Policy has also been completed as part of this process.  It covers the expanded Waterfront Village Sector and has been integrated with the main body of the DPP, as has occurred with the height and density provisions of the recently completed City Centre Sector DPP.
 
The draft DPP text, IDP, Precinct Guidelines, revised Building Height Model and associated Scheme Amendment documentation were considered by Council in October 2011, when it was resolved to undertake a full public consultation process on the proposals.  This occurred during December 2011 and January 2012.

At the conclusion of the advertising period, fourteen (14) submissions had been received which were assessed by City Officers and the City Centre Structure Plan Consultant. The submissions received during the advertising period did not raise any substantiated matters which would have provided reasons for not adopting the proposed Planning Policy.

As such, in April 2012 Council resolved to adopted Planning Policy No.3.2.5, subject to minor editorial modifications.

The Waterfront Village Development Policy Plan ensures consistency with the adopted Centre Plan for the Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre.

The Development Policy Plan became operational on 28 September 2012.
 

Figure 7 - Waterfront Village Sector - Indicative Development Plan

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Sector 3 - Smart Village

Location

The Smart Village Sector is generally bounded by Dixon Road, Dowling Street, Chalgrove Avenue (unmade) and Goddard Street (north) and it includes the land formerly used for the sporting grounds on Dixon Road.
 

Figure 8 - Sector 3 - Smart Village Sector

Desired Future Character

The 24 hectare site, which is vested in the City of Rockingham, represents a strategic TOD opportunity at the junction of the transit route and Dixon Road.  A contemporary mixed use, higher density development will embody sustainable development principles and high quality urban design.  It will build on the market profile and amenity foundation of the nearby Waterfront Village and will include a village Main Street and central park around which the higher density TOD will be assembled.  Contemporary residential apartments and offices will be situated over streetfront retail in a built form that ranges from 2 to 20 plus storeys.

Preferred Uses

• Appropriate TOD uses lining the Transit Route
• Streetfront mixed uses of urban scale including offices and commercial
• Local service retail
• University-related uses
• Medium to high density residential
• Possible Contemporary Arts Centre
• Passive Parkland

Implementation

The City has completed the Smart Village Masterplan and Development Policy Plan (DPP), which establishes development objectives (as already set out in the approved Centre Plan), and provides clear planning objectives to future developers within the Sector.

The DPP includes detailed narratives for the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Precinct Concept Plans and Precinct Guidelines.  Long cross sections, prepared during the preparation of the overall Centre Plan, have been updated to illustrate the profile and scale of envisaged development.

The Smart Village Sector proposals, together with a related Scheme Amendment were considered by Council in October 2011, when it was resolved to undertake a full public consultation process on the proposals.  This occurred during December 2011 and January 2012.

At the conclusion of the advertising period, nine (9) submissions had been received which were assessed by City Officers and the City Centre Structure Plan Consultant.

The submissions received during the advertising period did not raise any substantiated matters which would have provided reasons for not adopting the proposed Planning Policy.

As such, in April 2012 Council resolved to adopt Planning Policy No.3.2.2, subject to minor editorial modifications.

The Development  Policy Plan became operational on 28 September 2012.
 

Figure 9 - Smart Village Sector - Indicative Development Plan

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Infrastructure Development Strategy (IDS) for the Centre Plan

This important study has resulted in an up-to-date Infrastructure Programme for the Rockingham Strategic Metropolitan Centre, with priorities identified for State and Local Government funding opportunities.

The intent of the IDS is to develop a framework for integrating infrastructure components with the desired land use vision. The framework also provides a tool for assessing the implications for connecting the proposed land uses to the existing or alternative infrastructure networks.  The IDS also provides a more detailed analysis of the proposed transit network.

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What's Next?

The City will undertake the following implementation studies in 2012/2013:-

• Smart Village North Sector Masterplan, DPP and TPS Amendment
• Northern Waterfront Sector Masterplan and DPP
• Campus Sector Masterplan and DPP
• Eastern Sector Masterplan and DPP

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Downloads
 

You can find out more information within the PDF files below:- 

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